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JAMMU/SRINAGAR
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H HI
U-TT-g _
ji3a'z.
I
HAIM’S
PERSIAN-ENGLISH
PROVERBS
i
i
PERSIAN-ENGLISH
PROVERBS
Together with idioms, phrases,
glossarial notes , mother stories,
etc.
BY
S. Haim
Author of English - Persian and
Persian - English dictionaries of various sites.
B. & D. Beroukhim Booksellers
Av. Ferdowsi^ Teh
*
M II P _
» 3 a 7
t
Copy r i gilt 19-S 6
By B. & D. Beroukhim
Booksellers
Tehran.
( All rights reserved )
Foreword
h
It is with the utmost presumption that I venture
to write a foreword to Mr. Suleiman Haim's latest achieve¬
ment in the field of lexicography. I do so mainly to
publish » on behalf of all English - speaking students of
Persian > a well deserved gratitude to Mr. Haim i not
only for the present valuable work i but also for his
past efforts.
The present work is the result of 50 years endea¬
vour in a field of tremendous importance both for the
student seeking a wider understanding of Iranian thought
and literature and for the translator. It is gratifying that
Mr. Ha im has been wise enough to hesitate no longer to
publish the results of his years of collecting. The writer’s
own experience in this field has proved after only two
years’ work that the field is apparently inexhaustible and
the tendency to hesitate in publishing an inevitably in¬
complete work fatal ) for the collector may well hesitate
too long. Fortunately Mr, Haim has no longer delayed in
producing a book which is an indispensable tool for any¬
body concerned with the Persian language.
Proverbs in Persian are in no sense part of a mori¬
bund folk-lore kept alive artificially by the curious.
They » and the idioms which > as Mr. Haim remarks » are
so often difficult to distinguish from proverbs i are part
and parcel bf the living speech of every Iranian. This
book will be particularly indispenfable for the student
of modern Persian literature » fcr ) in a conscious effort
to reproduce living speech in their works j notable Per¬
sian authors of the last half century have tended more
and more to use these proverbs and sayings ? for the ex -
planation of which ordinary dictionaries afford little help,
- 2 -
However j not only the student of modern Persian
literature must be interested in this important aspect of
Persian, A point of considerable interest in Mr. Haim’s
Preface is his remark that the folk - lore represented by
these proverbs is in many instances more ancient than
literature itself. Here he hints at the problem of how
much in the great Iranian classical poets is in fact culled
from the popular speech of the poets ’ own time and
earlier. It is clear that to understand the classical poets
fully the student must be as familiar as possible with
Ira nian speech) particularly as there is evidence that this
has changed little in essentials through many centuries.
The importance of Mr. Haim’s collection is that it provides
a key to these essentials of great value to the foreigner
who is unable to spend a long time in Iran.
Great indeed is our debt to Mr. Haim for having
produced such a work and for having done so much
thereby to fill a very serious gap in the equipment of
the student of this gieat language and people.
P. W. Avery
B. A, Hons. ) Persian »
L'niversity of London
Tehran. December 2 7 th. 19.').')
Preface
The present work aims principally at providing
foreigners interested in Persian lolk lorc) and especially
the English-speaking students oj our language and lite¬
rature j with a handbook containing and explaining the
commonest and the most important Persian proverbs .
Undoubtedly » it also aflords a useful source for Iranian
students in their study of English » by way of giving
them a key to the methods of translation.
A proper proverb or saying should contain a uni -
vcrsal truth originating from a particular instance > often
based on a fable i however s a great variety of sayings
and quotations ? even maxims » mottos i and aphorisms j
has developed into proverbs. ( Cf. Solomon’s Book of
Proverbs in the Old Testament ) . Besides j there are
the idioms and idiomatic phrases > which the compilers
of proverbs of other languages have incorporated in
their works i as it has been noticed in a few books on
English proverbs consulted by the author during the com¬
pilation of the present work. Indeed i there are frequent
cases where it is impo5sil)le to draw a fast line between
proverbial and idiomatic phrases. Nevertheless? in an at¬
tempt to separate the proverbs from the idioms > this
book has been arranged so as to contain two parts dealing
separately with these two categories ? although ? owing to
the difficulties mentioned > readers may find cases where
confusion has been unavoidable.
Perhaps this is the first time that a bilingual collec¬
tion of this size has been presented to the public ? deal¬
ing with our proverbs ? written alphabetically in the ori¬
ginal Persian » translated freely or literally ? and enriched
by numerous notes and mother stories. The fanious collec¬
tion of proverbs by Ali - Akbar Dehkhoda ? which has
9
seived as my guide chiefly for purposes of collation
and selection i is in Persian only > while a few English
books dealing on the subject have omitted the original
Persian text » or else have given a very limited number
of our proverbs. It must i however > be acknowledged that
none of the works so far produced in this field can claim
to de exhaustive i much less if we turn our minds to
the provincial sayings and phrases » which are common
throughout the extensive country of Iran » but which
are mostly beyond the reach of a single student residing
in one locality.
The following shows the plan adopted for dealing
with the English side ot this book ; —
1 ) A literal translation has been given where it was
thought this would evoke some response in the English
mind or imagination.
2 ) A free translation has been given where a literal one
would result in an ambiguity or sound ridiculous in
English i while at the sanre time certain portions of the
original have been translated literally as an aid in making
the proverb more intelligible.
3) In Order to assist Iranian studentsi an attempt has been
made > within the author’s knowledge of English i streng¬
thened in this regard liy the perusal of English books
on [)ioverbs) to inseif the exact? or nearly exact? English
eqni Va} eat s of the Persian entries ? or at least phrases
winch hear son e similarity to ? or may he considered as
f)ai..llels of ? the Persian [iiovcrbs. Admittedly ? a good
n any of the Engli-h equivalents seem to be archaic and /
or obsolete ? but they should preserve at all events
their intrinsic value as eqii } v a] cn t s,
4 ) Where Ei'^lish equivalents woie wanting ? and the
translations were found to he insufficient to bring out
the proper n e.imng of tlic Peisian? resoif has been made
^ 1 lie bulk of the entiies iii this book was compiled
gradually during a (juaiter of a century through
‘‘hearing and picking” in the days when Uehkhoda’s
work had not a[»peaied ? which work was used as a
guide when the present hook began to be printed.
-D —
to parenthetical explanations with special reference to the
instance where a proverb would be cited.
5 ) The fables or anecdotes » which have given birth to
certain proverbs > have n ostly been related with some
briefness. Many of these have been versified by the fa¬
mous poets and moralists* Sa’di* Mowlavi* aid others >
reflecting in some instances the well-known fact that
popular folk-lore* of which the proverbs aie repiesent-
atives » are more ancient than literature itrelf. This book
contains no less than 112 anecdotes* each given immedi¬
ately after the proverb springing therefrom * but omits
as irrelevant such anecdotes as have been based on * or
invented to confirm the applicability of > the proverbs.
6 ) There are many cross - references from one item to
another * where these fall more or less under the same
category of thought.
7 ) The No/ appended to the proverbs serve either as
a glossary to explain difficult words* grammatical points*
and proper names * or give variants lor many of the pro¬
verbs * as it is a fate of common sayings to undergo
changes in the arrangement of their words * and even in
their very structure. This is especially true of those pro¬
verbs which have descended to us traditionally* and which*
up to recent tin:es > had not been cemmitted to writing.
The Persian entries having been arranged in their alphabe¬
tical order * the variant forms deviating from such order
had of necessity to be n.entioncd.
With regard to Part Two * which contains mostly
idioms » in view of the fact that a few friends have ob¬
jected to my having inserted therein mere groups of
words * which were not of a proverbial nature * and fell
wi th in the scope of ordinary dictionaries* I wish to explain
that these are collocations which could be covered by
the term idiom ” ^ * as their literal translation would
one definition of “ idiom ” being an expression the
meanings of which cannot he derived as a whole from
the conjoined meanings of its elen.ents . — Webster'^s
New Jnternalioijal Die t ion ary.
- 4 -
not make good sense. A few examples are 0^^
jT JJ ^ I c 5^T jl "
o-^. 1^ L*^ c—j - r and even the ordinary
collocations ^ - O^hiJ *b -
jj) Oi j gtc. etc. As it will be
seen from the English translations of these » while there
are cases of similarity between the English and the
Persian proverbs i in so far as the central thought is con¬
cerned ) there exists a wide gulf between the English
and the Persian idioms or collocations » hence the necessity
of treating the latter separately.
Finally > 1 have to offer my heartiest thanks to all
those friends who have given me their unsparing assis -
tance » while being consulted on the genuineness of certain
proverbs i on the correct meanings and true sources of
these » or on their best English renderings » for which
latter I am partly indebted to Mrs. Edith Johnson > an
English scholar of Persian > whose acquaintance I had the
honour to make during her sojourn in Iran. And » as
I have no pretensions whatever to having produced!
a perfectly desirable work » especially because of
the errors that have slipped in owing, to the printing
difficulties » I crave the sympathetic consideration of
the public for any sins of omission and commission ) and
ear nestly invite Persian and English scholars to perfect
the work after me y the former to improve on the
Persian side , and the latter to fill in the gaps left for
English equivalents.
S- Haim
( UO fU) )
\j j:Jiy> wUbfe-
U c L.M ( folk - lore ) j* Sj^Uj j ..rr^
J c-^l S^L JJ j O-Jb r>--> j J
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. >j—n* wpUi Jl^l - 1 *^ J •Jj-'l* -^ 1 ^ J’**^
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J ^5-^1 31 C^l ^ Ol^^- ^
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- 8 -
j ol jL<i ^ U j j U JU1^
• (^J j 1 J ol^-- j** IfJ I *-»•*»- ^ j) -.^—1 JJ I C^
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^u %^ j ij'jj] f 1-^^ ^ J' L-T jis" tfi 1 ji
J^*«l J ( ^ ) ‘ J !**tt
fly — ^ jl^ 1; Ij W ->•> J>>-J ^ J •31*^1
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Kjr^y %jr
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)jo J iX» 1 t- e L— c-i J J cLC>a« Ol^l'^J
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J^-j 1 31 • Ol^Uc <» Jj'^^'^j ■^'J“t^ 1"^, '^1-
<r —-;1 j ^jLi; -1^1 J^^l *ll 4jjl^ Ij ^1
(( >1*--1 ^>-'JJ 4^ oW^ y )) -^ij^;-^ liiW <3-1
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- 9 -
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oi>^ ^-^1 31 J^'i Ij liUll <;
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• *^1 o^X<» ^jo^ 31 j
idiom
ol^Mldii^l ^ .IglAll
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cl^*^l •CiL« <;L3 4 _aJL r
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((|*^^ Jl^l» •>^J] ^J\JJ>j\^SJl:^ Ji
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31 *jjJ 31 Cali— aS' ^jt JU^I 31 0*^ w^jUoI
oj^ 0^.^-T J ^ ol>*A .ji^ 01^3 0^3
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Ij ^ <3** *S^ji »-*ii« (^Ia •jI^U- ^»- J wUlfli* oIA3»
• JL^I C-^* fAt 31 ^l; J Jir o'^lCftl 31 Oil . -^ J^u
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oici^ji ^ i> it^T J ju-1 L j>^^A
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- 10 -
j iJkU aCL l^T < '^1
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ij-t ^yrJ ■ -CiC^ O-^ a:i-A Vr L i>. ^
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jij Uj j^ h ^ -^1 ,>^*; ^
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Lj oU'Xia-^l Li oliJ dXi*^* J^ jl <J L j Ji oUJ L
31 o' J''^l J JU
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(^Ia Jil*A Cj^^ J^ '•"1 J ^ <ji' ^
y^ -Cj- Or—^ _A^31 Jy JJ w^lSl— 1 L i o'i 3 Ji
y^ ^ J iSy^.'^ O'^lSLll -la-lj o' Ji
fly
<^U» \ J 31 (^UjU wij>* j;>
jl 45*" J •LiS^ V 45^ I J
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‘tr
List of Abbreviations
ol^UaXi-1
A.
Arabic
cf.
Confer = Compare
« * *
E.
English
E. E.
English equivalent (s)
etc.
et cetera = and so
on
j < •jjij
P. T.
Free translation
j\
i, e.
id est = that is
Litt ^
Latin
Cr-'V
lit. ; Lit.
Literally
(O-il
) 0 i ‘
p.
Persian
pvb.
proverb
1 JIa
q. V.
quod vide = which
see
3^ wl^ jlo, a-L<r
T.
Translation
Turk.
Turkish
jy
PART ONE
Proverbs and
Proverbial Expressions
^ ^ Water 10 an indication of habitation
and development.
1) There is not even a ripple in
the water ( /. e, peace prevails everywhere ). 2) It won’t
cause a ripple.
The sky will not fall in.
X, To make a present of sea water (/.
to make an empty or worthless compliment ).
V? Water will not drip from his hand.
* . a) He is close-fisted, b) He won’t give away ( or
lose ) the droppings of his nose.
^ ji T. Saliva flowed out of his mouth.
1) This expresses extreme fondness and is
stronger than yT watered”. 2)
Ihe vulgar use the variant ^Is^l <iU J viAs-
- 2
where J means “chops”.
V ^ ^ ft
C—f jt wj t T. The water is turbid from its
source (^*.^. trouble starts with those at the head of affairs).
3^ 3^ 2^
C.i-t OJIT T. The water has risen over his head.
E. E. It is all up with him. Cf, also and adapt
•*- ua ( etc.
3^ -O' 2^
carry water in a sieve,
b) To draw ( 1^^. measure ) water with a sieve.
<!r ^
^jJtf ^X) w) 1 1) E, T. To travel from one region ( li^.
water ) to another for health improvement purposes')
have a change. 2) H!4 ?7iOurously, To die.
ATwater for
mc) it certainly has bread for thee. {^FfOfn the following
historic anecdote\ :
Hadji Miiza Aghassi) premier to Mohammad-Shah of the
Ghajar Dynasfy) had ordered a subterranean canal to be dug
in a certain place. One day when he went to see the prog¬
ress of work) Uie master-digger Said to hini) “It is a vain
effort to dig a canal in this place) for the land here has
no water”. “ How foolisli thou must be ! ” replied the
premier > “if it has not water for me ) it certainly has
bread for thee”. thcE. “It brings grist to the mill”).
1
..'1 ,> jSj w i <>
1 r.
Water meets
water
and
gathers strength.
E. E. Union is strength.
* sSs
T.
Fo pour clean
water
( or
the water of purity ) over some onc^s hand ( /. e, to give
him a flat or definite refusal? or a disappointing reply).
j>tt ^3j w-i 1 i . To pour the water of repentance
on one’s head ( /. e, to repent ),
5CS
- 3 -
C jJ OiSj T. ( Even ) the
water of life will kill when one is out of one’s depth,
c, E. A little wind kindles^ much puts out the fire.
C The water of life
IS in the midst of darkness ( i. e. success can only be
obtained through trouble ).
iJ’J^ yT T. Sweet water { never ) went
down his throat.
fi. E. He was never happy. He led a dog’s life.
Kf/'45* oM oJjTja yT T. While there is water
in the pitcher? we wander thirsty,
E, We seek water in the sea.
Nofe, The^econd hemistich to this is
^ the companion (or the sweetheart) is Already in the
house? and we are wandering about the world.
P“* *" ®"«’» ear.
* * To throw dust in some one’s eyes.
c, ~ ^ ^
r. To bray water in a mortar.
E, E, a) To carry water in a sieve, b) To flog a dead
horse.
U yT E. E. a) To try to measure sea water
by a pint-pot. b) To plough the sea-shore,
f. To measure sea water.
wT \j yT T, To
dious or too careful
rinse water ( /. e. to be over-fasti-
in observing hygienic rules).
^ tjT T, Water must be stopped at its source.
^ T, He muddles the water to
endf).^***^ ^ mischief to gain his own
- 4 -
JUCjA Jii h Water finds its own way {i,
the meek and the kind find their place in people s hearts).
15 ^ y. Water which has run down¬
stream does not return upstream.
£. E, What is done cannot be undone.
^ I Jji I T". One should not make one’s honour
( as cheap as ) the water in the gutter.
Note, The beauty of the Persian 1 which is lost m
the rendering? lies on the riming words and
smjS T, Water is light.
Note, When water is poured out in any place? it is
considered as a good omen j and the phrase is cited aS an
excuse.
^j ( T, Water is collected under his
skin ( /. e. he has put on flesh? also? he has grown rich).
6 ^ jj ! N Water under the straw,
''V ^ *
E. E. Deep or shrewd (person).
t ****! 1 E, T- . C.^onception is secret ?
but childbirth will be known to all. (This means that an
evil act may be done in secret? but the result will be
knov/n to all }.
^ o ^
^ Their several streams ( lit,
waters ) will not run in the same channel.
E, E, They will never go in double harness? they will
never agree.
6 ^**} AS '1 T, When the water
rises above one’s head ? one fathom is the same as a
4
hundred .
E, E, a) In for a penny? in for a pound, b) As well be
- 5 --
hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. See j\ w/T
C-f
Note, has been replaced also by or ^
Ip- (it) <r I T. Water staying ( long ) in one
place becomes putrid. {Caution against long periods of
service in any one place }.
^• To carry glass ( or mirrors ) to Aleppo.
B. E. Same as under o jij
oiMAla) T. Water offered unasked for is a good
omen.
Note. which literally means “ intention or
wish here elHptically stands for “a wish which has
been granted by God”.
B. B, Given the water? he
is a good Swimmer. ( Said of one who is deprived of
chances to display his capabilities }.
V* B. They have the same water and cat¬
tle ( /. e. they have everything in common ).
I T. The waters ran clear of the mill {i. e,
everything is quiet and the position is clear ).
c/■>' Lsd B. No water can be heated by him
you cannot expect him to do anything i you can
have no faith in himi you cannot count on him).
^ I T. To burn the back of one’s hand
( so that the scar may be a sign of repentance? or remind
one of his vow ),
^ y 1 1 . Once the fire has
started? it burns green and dry ( i. e. good and bad ).
^ 1 *
- 6 -
Fire cannot be extin¬
guished by fire.
fuel to the fire.
T. To fan the f ire.
f T, A wise
man does not extinguish a fire and leave the embers.
E. E Same as under ,,2JiS~ -a9l etc.
^ <s ^
1 ^ *5^ I T (A.) E. The sword is the last resort.
wimI oLi I T. By trying to live like a king
one ends by drawing straw ( /. e. doing the meanest work).
*‘*.xiL5 wt) F. T, To keep on saying to one’s
teacher? “What is the matter with you ? teacher ? ” (in
order to suggest in liim the thought of illness). {From the
following anecdote -i which has been related by the
poet mowl avi'}'•
One day when a teacher entered the classroom ? accor¬
ding to the students’ plan to get rid of him? one of them
said? “ Teacher? what is the matter with you tO'day ? ”
“Nothing”? he said. But when all the students asked the
same question ? the thought of illness was suggested in
him? and he fell ill.
Nov/» to a person who remarks that another is ill ?
v/hile the latter is not really or seriously ill ? they say
? « JiiU a> ju jd>-l »
1 F, T. It is quite easy
to become learned {lit. a theologian or tutor ) ? but ve¬
ry difficult to become a man.
i . Where the priest gets no fees? even the mice in your
house should be made to marry each other.
ObU iM T. He who ie a poor pay pays twice.
{Perhaps because? on being sued in the court? he will
have to repay his debt with costs ? or because > inasmuch
as he pays in very small and numerous instalments > an
error may arise in the reckoning whereby he pays more
than he is due to pay }.
A man without children is a
king without cares.
^ btiCi T. Until a man has shown
humility he cannot attain greatness.
E. To learn to command one must learn to obey.
.Sj'j h Jic , A lazy person is as wise
as forty ministers . {Inactive people are often mentally
active? and always ready to give advice }.
Jit T. A
man who pays promptly shares in others' wealth. { This
is because he can borrow again and again }.
$ < 3 -
iiAI ji ^ ^^1 T, A wise man does not
strike a lancet with his fist.
E. E. A wise man avoids edged tools.
^ 3 ^ <}• 8 ^
( T, Liars have i
E. E, Liars should have good memories.
8 ^ * 3 ^
E. E. a) More haste ? less
Speed, b) Haste makes waste,
t. The hasty man does his work twice over.
3 ^ * 8 ^
Uy A man who is
(too) clever has his foot on a melon skin (which is slip¬
pery ).
E, a) Good swimmers are oftenest drowned, b) Clever
8
people often miss their way. c) Subtility set a trap and
caught itself.
6jU I r. A bustling
( i//. clever or active ) person only wears out two more
pairs of shoes in the year.
* 2 ^
'-Ub bAd 1 P.T, A tall man has short wits.
! 4*i^jJl^lbAT' I, A beggar and yet all these airs !
E. E. Poor and proud? Fyi fy ! C'. also Pride and pover¬
ty are ill met ? yet often together.
I . A hungry person hf.s no
faith ( or scruples ).
E, E, a) A hungry man i an angry man. b) An empty
( or a hungry ) belly bears nobody, c) A hungry belly
has no ears ( Scoltisli ).
^ p,
bXU) Vjc> ^ ^ E. A naked person
dreams of double-width canvas.
E. E, a) The cat dreams of mice, b) The lover dreams of
his mistress. Cl. jtm etc,
^ p ^ p
4)Lo ^jl j&i 1 2 . A man with a thousand trades
procures a little capital.
E. E. Jack of all tradesi (and) master of none.
pop
^ ^ E, A human being should have hu¬
manity ( or courtesy ).
p o p^
O ^ E, A man can have no
worse disease than ignorance .
pop
E. E, Noise an emptiness betrays*) fulness gives no hollow
sound.
E. As a deaf nut is betrayed by its lightness? so is a man
- 9 -
disgraced by his tongue.
Note, The following sayingj which is attributed to
Demosthenes? is very much the same as that of SaMi *.
As a vessel is known by the sound > whether it be
cracked or not ? so men are proved by their speeches >
whether they be wise or .foolish.
<0I 1 ^ . Man needs wisdom rather than gold
( /. e. money ).
P. P. The wisdom of the old is far better than gold.
< 3 - 3 ^
j 4) O) f F.T, Brains are better than brawn.
P- Man has been fed by T^ti‘
milk. ( Cited by way of excuse when a crime has been?
Or may be? committed by a man out of cru defiess }.
C>\j ji <> (Virtual) fatness comes
through the ear. P> “From hearing comes
wisdom ? from speaking repentance’\
C-1 ( 4x^jT \Jil wtWf J U P- He has sifted
his flour ( and hung up the sieve ).
P- P. He has had his fling i his youth has had its swing,
P- There is no fault in young men
having desires. (Often ironical}.
P. To carry one’s wish to the grave ( P c.
to die frustrated in one’s wish ).
P. P. To nourish a hope or wish.
P. To cook up a hope.
cAiojU P‘ The greedy are always needy.
P. P. He is not poor that has not much ? but he that
craves much.
3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^.
- 10 -
j) E. E. Good clothes open all doors. {From
tke following anecdote}:
One day Molla Nassreddin went to a wedding-feast to
which he had been invited. As his clothes were ragged and
old» he was beaten and turned out. He then borrowed a new
suit) put it oni and returned to the feast. On Seeing his
new clothes) the guests offered him the seat of honour.
When dinner was served i Molla held his sleeves over the
dishes and said > O new sleeves > eat the pilau ”, He
then explained that it was on account of his new sleeves
( or clothes) that he had been honoured > and that it was
truly they which were entitled to eat.
Note. If j and changed places ) we should
have some sort of rime with ^ and jk ■
Jkm I E. E. It will not make the sky fall,
T. It will not make, holes in the sky.
sg? -O- 3^
Chalk and cheese.
T, Sky and rope.
<3- Sjg
cT* I T*. He is at
ease who has no asS) he need not know about its barley
and straw.
E, E. Much coin) much care.
{o^ jKi ^.) fti.0 Lw ( T. Be as a mill j take
in the coarse and give out the fine (/. e. even when you
are Spoken to harshly reply gently) ,
I 7. In the mill one takes one’s turn.
F. E. a ) Turn and turn about » turn about is fair play,
b) First come) first served.
^ o
1. His mills (/. e. teeth) grind quickly,
C . tke E. He has the digestion of an ostrich.
J Lw I Same as zj ^ wLmuT
as
- 11 -
To cook a pottage for some one.
E. £. To cook some one’s goose > to ruin some one by
insinuating against him.
^ ^ ^ many cooks
Spoil the broth. . ‘ti^LoLo ctc\
T, Where there are two cooks the pottage is either
salty or tasteless.
T. It is not a pottage so hot as to
burn the mouth.
E. E, a ) It is nothing to write home (or shout) about,
b) You won’t miss much, c) It is not so hot (Americanism).
(juT ylisT T, The sunrise is the proof
of the sun.
ils9l iUSl i> wbiT T, Now that the sun is
setting) the lazy man is hurrying.
No(0. If i, e. ‘ manly activity ’ is substituted
for it will rime with
1 T. The sun cannot be hidden by mud.
See the next pvb.
ji ju»p- j_:> 1 T. The sunshine cannot remain (^.
be hidden) under the mat.
E. E. Truth will out.
3 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
C-.I , E, E, He has one foot in the grave.
E. T, He is like the sunshine barely shining at the edge
of the roof.
3 ^ * 3 ^
C—t 4iUiT F. T, The ewer has to be sold to pay
for the soldering thereof.
E. E, The game is not worth the candle ( or the play
won’t pay the candles ) .
SC^ O 3^.
“ 12 -
J <)UdT T. Six pitchers and six
basins (for washing the hands) j and yet no dinner.
Note. The E. expression “Barmecide feast ” j which
is usually rendered approaches Somewhat
the meaning intended by this pvb. The E. pvb. “ Much
bran? little meal ’’ is not quite an equivalent.
^ plum takes its colour by
looking at its fellow-plum.
B. E. A man is known by the company he keeps.
Note. Instead of the above? which is a regular hemi¬
stich i the vulgar say ^ ji\
w/LFi-UT' wU> I 1. He intended to do good ? but was
put to torture. (Said in cases when the reward of a good
act happens to be a suffering } .
•{> 2 ^
jl U jlj f . In trying to
pluck her eyebrows) he blinded her.
E. H. Striving to better? oft we mar what is well.
Note. The E. expression “ to gild the lily ” ? ex¬
tended to read 5 “ To gild the lily does more harm than
good”? approaches the sense of the P. pvb.
^ Oue comes by one’s own free
will? but goes by permission, (Said by a host who wishes
his guest to stay longer with him },
oiy <CU> I T. The more rich? the more
in need ( /. e. of grace ) .
<rL^'> ( <) Af Jj Ls^T T. Go where they
call thee? not where they drive thee hence.
^ o ^
aijCLo I 1\ 7. Let those who deny it
come? so that you may prove it in their presence, ( Of¬
ten Said ironically to one who has pretensions
- 13 -
^ ^5jfiV AA) Ji, ^ ^• Where the
eagle’s wings are powerless ( lit, fall out) ^ what can one
hope from a small gnat ?
c^l>* c^i jLc <r bt> I F. T, What is self-
evident (or visible) needs no explanation.
flUjC* makes one who is so
more so. (A comment about wine ) .
Note, The first hemistich to this» which is less often
cited > is JU5C^ jm i. Wine does
not work ill in every head.
ojitj c-tfl-jail o'.??'
Age can see more in ( or through ) an unbaked brick
than youth can see in a mirror.
Note. This verse — a comment on the experience of an
old man— has been refashioned into a variant as follows:
MJ JA JJJ au o'jf ‘'ilj
verse has “ that ” j while the former has
“ more than that ” .
JILmJ ^others what
you would not ,like others to do to you .
Wbat the heart thinks
the tongue speaks.
T. What is in the heart comes to the tongue.
A> c^f I T. What is in the pot
will come into the ladle (. >. in the end this secret
will be divulged ) .
jJttQidtJb c—l \ I JUS Q I A> I E. E. Man
proposes ? God disposes.
T. What my heart wished did not come to pass* but what
God wished came to pass.
- 14 -
c—l2^L:K>f ^1 ja <> Jj iXTU
T. What gives the lion the nature of ( i. makes him
cringe like) a fox is necessity— necessity and only necessity.
E. E. Hunger will tame a lion.
_
^Ur* ^ F^ir exchange no robbery.
F, r. So long as replacement ( or exchange ) is possible?
th ere is no ground for complaining.
C 1 ^ ^hat does not endure
does not merit attachment.
•TJ-
^ \S What is nectar {or en¬
joyment) to one person is a sting to another.
E. E, One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
I v-K) M_ I <r( L) T. What is des-
pised may some day be found useful.
sS ^ 2^
4r*c*-*^ ^ T, He is indeed my kinsman
who is with me.
^ote, Ti)e K. pvb. “A good friend is worth more than
a ncai kinsman has a much Stronger implication than the
Peisiau? and corresponds to the following verse by Sa*di :
I - o _
( ^ ^ I T. Those records
have been eaten by (lie cow (and the cow has been taken
away by the butcher).
E. E. a ) That is all past and done with, h ) It is quite
another story nov;. c) Let bygones be bygones.
SSS
. If the ass had the two horns of the ox? he would not
allow human beings to approach him.
T. Why strike him whom
Fate has struck ?
- 15 -
i,A) (.Uf '^ \^\ T. To him who does that will
come this.
E. £. As thou so west) so shall thou reap.
|^(i***-*} ComI AT "!^ I T. Why need
he? whose accounts are clear(ed) » fear to render accounts?
E. E. a) A clear conscience fears no accusers, b) Be true
and fear not.
^ I P. T. He who is fated to
receive bounty will receive it in this very world.
2^ <3- 2^
(<> c**-l ojlp6*it <r fy 1 T, He who
has generosity does not need courage { P the generous
are already courageous ) .
T. That jar is broken and
that measure spilt (t. c. it is quite another story now ) .
Cf, \j q\ etc.
Sg? <3^ 3^
jA ^ < 5 * ^*
P. P. Eat to please yourself) and dress to please others.
^ o ^
^ * *1* ^ I T, Pile up a load
which can be drawn) not one which will kill.
Note. The beauty of the Persian) which is lost in
the E. translation) lies mainly in the assimilated words
•AAO, bekeshad and JUJC/ bokoshad.
P, Cook as much as you can eat.
? o1<J^ T. Thou hast been grazing so much)
where is thy fat tail ? ( Said to one who has struggled
in vain through greed or other motives }.
2C2 o 25?
L5 Ij oyl b JJJiiT T. Through our cons¬
tant prayers to God we have been enabled to make a coat
of that cloth. ( We should now hold in great esteem what
- 16 -
we have obtained ) .
Note. 6means ‘‘ cloth used for the outside of a
suit
sia-t ^ I E. E. You can’t see the
wood for the trees.
Notes. 1) believe ^^< 0 .*** is only a contraction of
which means “jessamine”.
2) The variant approaches
a regular hemistich.
oJ^mt jwtA) ( T. He has eaten so
many snakes that he has been turned into a dragon. (Said
of a very sly person or of a veteran rogue ).
Note. Some would use which means “ a viper”
for U^:Jf in the pbv.
a.:f jl jki!a> <r jdlji) j oilju AT^^T
>T joU <r jOUj joU aT^^T
wdU) J&>^\ 0)1 ailo) aToJIo) J oiloi AT^^CT
1 . He who knows ? and knows that he knows > will
leap his Irorse of honour over the vault of lieaven. He who
knows noti but knows that he knows not » will in the end
bring his lame ass to its destinatio.i. He who knows not>
and knows not that he knows not) will remain forever
in double ignorance.
E,E. Same as under the pvb. o*-jbolO) 0" etc.
•• * ,
j oiT ojur A^ (3^.0^ ac>T
f. What difference does the rain make to him who is
drowning in tlie Ked Sea ? ( Alore briefly ) \ drowning
peiBon fears not the rain.
V ^ ft
AC) 1 ^ . He who used to buy elephants is
Cf '
gone.
Ij ^ I etc.
A-Ck* (^1) 7 . The bogy has carried off the breast.
(Originally meant to quiet a child crying for the breast,
l»ut now meaning “ It is quite another story now”). Cf. the
-l7-
H. ‘‘Gone is the goose that the golden egg did lay
T. That honey ( lit^ wholeso
drink ) is not worth this sting.
Honey is sweet » but the bee stings. Cf,
€t C.
me
2 ^ * 2 ^
0>uf/'^VUc.9U c-ilj >^.oT
^ . Such a one had an ass ) but no pack-saddle i ( by the
time) he got the pack-saddle? the wolf had carried off the ass.
(f I i . To hear the sound
of the drum is pleasant at a distance.
‘Tis the distance that lends enchantment to the view
( and robs the mountain of its azure blue ).
The barking of the dogs
does not make the beggar’s portion {or daily bread ) any
less.
1?L) JA oT T. Not to have ( even ) a breath ( lit. a
Sigh ) in one’s stock. Cf, etc,
Note. The variant jiilaj of in which
means ‘liver’ is rather rare.
ij. <S-*T T. Go along slowly and (you can) keep
on going.
Slow but sure .
(] j\ h aj:> cl P. T. It is the sigh of the
Oppressed which impresses.
Note. For “oppressed” the P. has AJi w-s-U» , which
means “ (One) suffering from a pain '
*5? <j- iji?
JUi oT T. The sighs of the oppressed
pursue the oppressor (/. e. the oppressor is doomed to be
punished for his oppression).
2
- 16 -
to
^^>6 ©T T, May no sigh of a hair follow a
mountain! (^The idea is that the sigh of the oppressed*
however small > will bring vengeance on the oppressor*
however great j.
juT b © ( E. E, He has not a penny
bless himself with.
T, He has not (even) a sigh to exchange for a groan.
jJL >jlT ^jM ) E. E. a) To flog a dead horse, b) To bite
( or gnaw ) a file.
T, To beat cold iron. ^
Not c . The variant ^^ is bookish.
E. E. To sell the beards skin before
tlie bear is caught, ^ etc.
T. To make a present of the gazelle not yet caught.
3^ -Q- 3^ •
* si jf 4iiT T. To hold
up a mirror in an assembly of blind men is ( like ) giv¬
ing a cocoa-nut to the monkey.
b. h. A blind n>an will not thank you for a looking-glaSS.
I.
P i
bfiJSe
“ lie
holds
a looking-glass
to a mole ” »
d
cl.-jpt e
d ifO)n the
Greeks.
o
m m
P tb
wW,
iCil
Ijjfl ill
H rain
be the water of life
■> the willow
er
h^lM
1 ruil.
E, h. k^igs do not grow on thistles.
a:.C> ,mUv 1^' ,>l E. E. Cattle do not die from
crows’ oursi.ng.
i . The barking of a dog will do a cloud no harm.
Si . If thou cans! not be
open-handed ( c. generous ) j be open - browed { /. e.
ciicerful ).
0 ^ 3 ^
‘U)! I . The fool said > and the lazy
- 19 -
man believed it. (A lazy man believes even what a
fool says if it only can excuse him from working }.
^ r. The fool said
something and the madman ( or fool ) believed it
The tenant is like a colonist
(i. s, in a position to choose or change his place ).
k ) ^ vg- r. When
the dog’s time comes> he steals ( or eats ) the shepherd’s
bread.
2^ O 2^
^ . It is he whose fate is adverse
who will diej not he who is desperately ill.
^ Necessity is the mother of invention,
Note. It is doubtful that this proverb is of Iranian
origin.
2^ <3- 2^
Ci^l A ?jm T. Reason is conditioned on caution.
E, 1) Discretion is the better part of valour. 2) Cau¬
tion is the parent of safety.
c-iXA cu-Jii jyb *tr^JCiT c.*-f ,3^^
i. He is a fool who takes the higher seat > ( fOx ) his
bones will be broken so much the harder.
E, E. a) The higher the fool the greater the fall, b) Climb
not too high lest the fall be greater .
2^8 0 - 2 ^
T. To count the stars (/. e. keep awake all night).
E, E, To count sheep.
2^8 O ’ 2^8
\j ji,sS j T, He will not throw his
spit to the hen.
E. E, He will not lose ( or give away ) the droppings of
his nose.
2^8 O’ 2^
- 20 -
\Sj^ cheap is buying rubbish.
Note, ^Lii is a scrip of sheep leather.
E ,E, (a) Bad ware is never cheap, (b) Good cheap is dear
at the long run.
JLib j1^<2db ^0^1 T. That is despised which is cheaply
obtained.
^ T. To extract colour from water.
E. E. (a) To draw blood out of a stone, (b) To flay a
flint.
o
i:»y> u .ji) ^>1 <rcu-J i* oj o I j\ T. He is not one of
those willows to tremble at one of these winds.
E. E, He has lived too near a wood to be frightened by
owls.
oJiitj Ipciif j! oJuLo Lxi I jjl T, Left out of one place and dri-
ven away from another. ( Said of one who > before find¬
ing a new employmenti has resigned his former employ¬
ment or has been disiiiisscd from it}.
ij<.5 <r ^ ji) jT ji jto j <r ^ji) ji
E. E. (a) B-Iik ing dogs don^t bite, (b) The dog that means
to bite does not bark.
T. Do not fear him who makes an outcry ) but fear him
who keeps his head down (/.<?. does not show' his intention).
< 1 -
j- . Do not fear a black cloud and a bushy-bearded man i
tear a wliite clou<i and a thin-bearded man.
Note, '^j’his vcrse> wdiich has neither sound rhylhinT
nor a correct nniC' iS akin ? in its general sense? to
fallen
^*6^0^ (t«f) 1 j\ F, / . Though we have
from our steed? we have retained our noble breed.
- 21
ji ji T, Galloping from the horse > and
barley from its master { f. e. a swift horse will be well
fed ). C/. etc.
*
6«-4wXj No one has seen
such a miracle from this shrine. ^ Used of an action
people would not have expected from some one ).
^ o ^
( C-J L ) 1 g J You
can believe anything you hear about this slyboots ( lit.
bootailed animal ), ( From the following anecdote } :
A certain person > being asked whether the fox laid
eggs or gave birth to its young ? answered j “ This sly
animal can do anything imaginable
Between pillar and post
there may be rescue.
T. Between one pillar and the other there is relief.
(With him it goes )
in at one ear and out at the other.
^ 0 u juj ^>1 j\ T. Let us have a hat from that
felt \ t. e. a share in such and such a thing ).
2^ -O’ 2^
^• To flee from the rain under
the rain-pipe. Cf. <Jb>- j\ etc, the equivalent of
uhich is To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.
c)**** < 5 *^^ jto.9 UJ j\ T. Whatever you get from a
bad loser is a windfall. is money given to by¬
standers at a game by those who win ).
‘Hv :<i T. An ape cannot do carpentry.
(1) A sow to a fiddle : (2) Every man to his trade.
0Jmt ji F. 7 . To become a pure Arab ( /. e. to pre-
- 22 -
tend not to understand the claimant’s language in order
to evade payment; also) to make a flat denial ).
!5s -a- 3^
■>' ^ - To remain alive for want of a
shwud, [Cited in cases of extreme poverty ).
M (*s! ■>' T. To go into the mouth of the
dragon from fear of the serpent. Cf. jbU .>1 etc.
j ch oA j-iS" H ■>*
Same as .cj ,) b b
C—^ b ai J** ^j-> b.;* He spurns with his foot
and draws to himself with his hand.
£. E. He refuses the bribej but puts forth his hand.
Note. The P. pvb. can be so generalized as to include
other cases besides bribery.
^ o^b b A ^ ^ Running about too much
{ i, e. too much bustling or effort) wears out one’s shoes.
cf. the pvb. etc.
Note, j\jj\ b is a provincial form of the word
b “footwear or shoes”.
( Cwt;:> I After every weep¬
ing at last comes laughter.
E. h. a) After night conies the dawn, b) After sorrow
comes joy.
Note, The second hemistich to this is
C.-*.)) Ci-U) .^1 ^ /. C. the man who foresees
the end is a blessed servant ( of God ).
vsT ji j( y j\ T. Action on thy part) blessing on
God’s.
E, E. a) God helps those who help theinselv'CS. h) God
helps the sailor ) but he must row, c) Begin your web j
and God will send you the thread, d) Get thy spindle and
tliy staff ready » and God will send thee flax.
- 23
w*«**i^^*^^ '^• A despetalc iran needs
no help.
^,^ll9( tS^ To come out of the
ditch and fall into the pit.
E. E. To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.
^ I i . To come cut of the pit
and fall into the snare.
E, E, {Same as for the preceding pvb. )
Js-U 0" T. Bet ween truth and untruth
is four fingers’ width ( i. c, between the eye. that sees
the reality and the ear that hears rumours ).
^ <s ^
tjXp- j\ T, Saying “ sweets ”
repeatedly does not sweeten one’s mouth.
E. a) Fair words butter no parsnips, b) A thousand
wishes will never fill your pail with fishes, c) Many
words will not fill a bushel, d) Wishes don’t wash dishes.
Cowl ^ ^ folly {lit, a mistake)
to expect the turner’s trade from an ass. Cf, etc.
T. ( To pluck even ) a hair from a bear
( is a success ).
Cf, the E, From a bad paymaster get what you can.
Note. ‘‘Bear” is used here to personify miserliness.
<y ^
) J?l To get down from the Devil’s
( black ) ass ( /, e. to cease to be obstinate ).
cf . the. E. “ To come off one’s high horse which
implies diminishing one’s arrogance.
^ . They are asking an ass >
“When is Wednesday ? ” ( i. e. they are taking counsel
from a fool .)
cf, the E. “What ! would you have an ass chop logic
- 24 -
alldl ^9 Oi jOT:;I T. When he had been libe¬
rated from the trap he was caught in a cage.
E.E. (Adapt the pvh. 4% etc.)
sSs o
«b V iJi P- I" ®" «mer-
gency one will address’a cat as madam.
O 1^8
through a needle’s eye and not through the town-gate.
E. E. To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
^ widow’s mite.
T. A green leaf offered by a dervish.
Leyli’s beauty should ' be viewed from the window of
Majnoon’s eye. (Reference to a pair of lovers in the ver¬
sified romance by Nezanii) .
E, E, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
k^ji oJJ^ jjl <0 I J*5 sighti out of
mind, b) Long absenti soon forgotten.
Note. For “ mind ” the P. has “heart ”.
* ■ *
Co***' C),illd( jl jf . He has fallen out of an elephant’s
nose. E. E. He is as proud as the peacock.
(^^} E. 1. A desolate village is
never liable to taxation.
\j ft jSiJ jS^ id E. h. *Tis the distance that
lends enchantment to the \Aew (and robs the mountain of
its azure blue).
r
i . When afan it enraptures the hejirti and when near? it
rends the gall-bladder. C^. etc.
jJ-pUI J Owti f . Three things
io avoid: a crumbling wall? a biting dog? and a shrew.
-Ct
“ 25 -
wUr" T, To eat roast meat from one’s
own thigh, (This has been taken to mean to ruin one’?
condition by ( or for the sake of ) good living ” > but it
may mean ( also ) “ to be too independent of others to
borrow from them meat ” } .
jTk) j T, To take from
the beard and put on to the moustaches,
-E. To take from one’s right side to give to tlie left.
Note. The E. “ to rob Peter to pay Paul ” has been
considered as a parallel? though of a different meanirg.
r. To draw oil from sand.
E. E. To d raw blood out of a stone.
^ Ct ^
jiiS" Jl San?e as ^ M.ji j>:>t etc.
E. E. a) Of the same leaven, b) Tarred
with the Same brush.
E. (Cut) from the same piece of tent-cloth.
^ Cr ^
loj j\ PA I uT* ^
j\ T. It is because
of the inertness of mankind that the man-eating wolf
comes into being.
T, Flowers ( Nt. jasmine ) will not
grow in brackish ground,
E. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
a loss is a
^ o
jl T. Whatever is recovered from
profit. Cf. j ua> rf a) jt etc.
2^ O
( ^ ^ N h bird once
liberated from its cage finds a garden everywhere.
w-aP S ^f Lo ^jl T. One
of the miracles of our Sheikh is this: he drank the syrup
and Said it was sweet. ( Referring to a platitude or a very
obvious remark).
2^2 * 2 ^
- 26 -
Note. An insipid variant of this verse is
This miracle of our Sheikh is nothing astonishing : he
saw the snow and said it was snowing.
jlT J jj^ 4rc.*-*i One can’t pluck
a hair from the palm of the hand which has none.
E. E. a) You can’t draw blood out of a stone, b) ‘Tis very
hard to shave an egg. c) Wliere nothing is» nothing can
be had.
<r E. E. a) Nothing comes
out of the sack but what was in it. b) Every tree is known
by its fruit, c) Such as the tree iSi such is the fruit.
/ . What is in the jug will leak out of it.
i . To give out from the Caliph’s purse
(/. c\ to be generous with other people’s money).
SQS <3- p.
aiAa) <:> ai <>■ larjl E, T, It makes no
difference to a l>eggar wlicther you give him a loaf of
bread) or take one from him.
E. E. A penny won’t make me or break me.
pop
joU^i U.f=^ jl T. Th e wolf will nev'er make a shepherd.
£. E. Set not the fox to watch the geese.
pop
JUj ^ E. He escaped the clutch of
4 -
the thief and fell into that of tiie soothsayer (l^t. geomancer).
E. h. He fell out of the frying-pan into the fire.
pop
( ^.r* E. r. It is amongst us that
is against us (/. c, we arc shot with our own arrow ) .
pop
Ui ji I . If only away from us? let it go into
tl»e Sack of cotton. {A selfish remark meaning “As long as
we are not harmed) let it destroy what or whom it will”).
P p
- 27 -
iJUitfl lib jA T. There is but a single step
from manliness to cowardliness. (Many an honest person
has had an abrupt transition to dishonesty) .
^ IT juJ/=v.f T, They began (of threatened
him) with death until he was content with fever.
^ ^ JSU jAf. oUKd T. Do not
neglect (to consider) the outcome of the acti wheat grows
from wheat and barley from barley.
£. £, As you sow> so you will reap.
oLm j>\ J j\ o-- j>\ JjI j <1... Ji
T. Fear not iilack hair and white cloudsi fear white hair
and black clouds. Ct. 4,^ j\ etc,
ji To cut a loss (D/. turn away
from half a loss) is a profit.
4m,^^ j\ 2. Do not borrow from a parvenu.
-^0 T. From whichever
hand you give> by the same hand you will receive (/. c.
the reward of the charity returns to the hand that gives it),
■E. a) As you sow? so you will reap, b) Virtue is its
Own reward.
hXtoo** (^ji)^U ijj£>jibT. From whichever quarter
the wind blows he will winnow his grain. cf. etc.
^ t?.
2 , It has already passed the fourth
stomach ( lit. digestive stage ) > i. c. by this time it has
been consumed and finished with.
j^Ldl Jjib j\ F. T. To fall into the pot
from greed.
2 ^ote. (which is also spelled jt*^) is a kind of
porridge with wheat groats and meat.
- 28 -
c—J c-«ti 2** T‘ There is no heart
without a path to God.
swallow does not make summer.
T. One flower does not make spring.
Note. I have seen in Dehkhoda'^s Proverbs ^
which I do not believe is of Persian origin.
He seems to have seen somewhere the literal translation
of the E, pvb.
^■Sj^ <) <01^ T. The household furniture
•• • • , •
shows what the owner of the house is like ( the
household furniture takes after the owner of the house).
^ O
ij E. E. One does not look
a gift horse into the mouth.
T. One docs not look at the teeth of a gift horse.
Note. The P. sentence is grammatically unsound
because of the double object ij ^^1 and . The
correct form would he wt
——— ^ *
f . The Arab horse gallops two stretches with great speedi
the camel goes on gently day and night.
E,. E, a) Slow and steady wins the race, b) Slow but sure.
p Si- p
i j\ OjljJ j\ ^ W*-** He is
like a Turkoman horsei he cats both from the nose-bag and
from the manger, (Referring to some one who tries to
make a profit from all sides}.
P o '<0*
P. I . A horse galloping
means more fodder ( Nt. barley )
pop
T. To lose the horse and search
for its shoe (/. e. to be careless about essentials and care¬
ful about trifles).
C'. the E. ‘penny-wise and pound foolish’? which is not
quite the same thine.
Pop
- 29 -
J*“ T, The horse» when it is fattened>
becomes restive.
T. A blood horse needs only
one stroke of the whip. Cf- j^fojUl I etc.
jPuiA Jijjtj ) oijuj <> laJC) 4r\j j
p. T. A horse and an ass tied side by side become of the
same temperaments though not of the same kind.
P. P. Tell me the company you keep* and I will tell you
who you are.
2^ O
S Jij <r jyui J J T. Who has ever seen a
faithful horses a faithful womans and a faithful sword?
P. They were shoeing the king’s horsess the flea and the
gnat also lifted up their feet.
P. P. Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the
king’s horses.
2^ O 2^^
\j T. The horse that they try to break when it is
forty years old will be fit for the race-couise of the
Resurrection,
P^ P. It is no use teaching an old dog new tricks.
r. To leave a splinter of bone in
the wound (/, e. to abstain from a radical cure or from
taking an effective measure in any matter and dally with
it from selfish motives). [Fro}?i the following .af 7 ecdotey-
Once when a butcher was chopping nieat a small splinter
of bone flew into his eye. He consulted a doctor who
said he would take the splinter out if the butcher would
send him a certain quantity of meat each day. But as days
passed the doctor only dallied with the matter instead of
trying to do the essential) until one day when he was ab¬
sent from the surgery his assistant opened the butcher’s
eyC) and locating the splinten look it out by an ordinary
- 30 “
surgical instruTnent.
The butchen who was greatly relieved of his pain? called
no more at the surgery? and the doctor? on questioning his
assistant about it? found out the reason. Whereupon he grew
angry and said ? “ How foolish thou must be ! Did you
think I could not see the splinter in his eye? I let it be
there on purpose? so that I may receive the daily portion
of meat ! ”
Mat tj T. When
asked who his father was ? the mule said ? “My maternal
aunt is a mare.’^ (An evasive answer given to conceal one’s
low ancestry } .
J J Parts
without training is a pity? training without parts a waste.
JjJC^ ^ T. A camel which
wants some straw will stretch its neck out.
E, E. No pains? no gains.
C-«l I T. The main ingredient of a ( sour )
pottage is beetroot. ( Used as an ironical or jocular praise
of a person or thing ).
Note. Tlic English would probably render the above
“The foundation of the stew is the turnip” .
} c^t wUir j jT \j jjil b J
E. r . One of a bad origin will not become good ? as his
very foundation is bad i
The training of the unworthy is water on a duck’s back
( lit. is like walnuts on a dome ).
E. E, ( a ) A lofty rank requires nobleness of soul .(b)
True blood will never stain. ( c ) Nob les se oblige.
j? w 1 jTjSb I
■1 . Lea rii to be lowly if you wish for grace ?
Land which is high will never absorb water.
- 31 -
despondent person will
depress the whole company.
( iS-^ 3 c-J vS" J T. To
kill the viper and leave the young is not what a wise
man would do. Cf. ^JS^ ^
£. E. (a) Destroy the lion while he is but a whelp, (b)
Crush the evil thing at birth.
(r^^} been
bitten by a viper will start away from the shape of a cord.
E. E. {Same as for oJUjP^U etc) .
jT" Ud jl Jf I T. To eat food from behind one’s neck
( /. e. To do things hind before ).
E. E. To put the cart before the horse.
oJJ Jrf o %cl) 1)1;/“( I . If you are a digger?
dig your own garden.
E. E. Physician) heal thyself.
^ Si-
S ^5^1; I (tiJi -J iSjt) T. Since
you do not take a load from my shoulders? why do you
add another load to mine ?
Note, Sometimes is changed to ^‘thou who’.
Though
you are dressed in fine clothes > and seated on a throne ? I
still see you with the eye of old times.
Note. The vulgar pronounce * as if it were spelled
which pronunciation causes it to rime with
and
^45-^ iSA jf
1 o-iy.} b" j\
T. If you float on water you are only a straw ? and if
you fly in the air you are no more than a fly » make
hearts happy and you will be some one worth while.
<i
jifib o>>ft^
T, Shouldst thou have two-hundred arts ( hung) on each
hair? they are useless if fortune is adverse.
E. E. It is better to be lucky than wise.
Note. The original Persian hasfor wisdom.
jdi^bA) \j Had he not
seen his father » he would have claimed kingship. { Said
of one who » though born of a low family ? has undue
pretensions }.
. • . T. If you can see the back of
your ear ( i. never ). Cf. the E, When two -Sundays
meet.
iJmU cAmU 7 . If thou hast money i^lit,
gold )> thou wilt have a world full of brothers.
E. h. He that is poor? all his kindred scorn him? he that
is rich? all are akin to him.
Were it not for ( meeting the
demand of ) the oppiessive stomach ? no bird would fall
irto the hunter s snare > nay ? the hunter himself would
not lay the snare.
sS?
C.*-! «-X«L3 jr'\ P.1, But for jealousy ?
the world would be a flower garden.
cH ^ But for jea¬
lousy? a whole town and a single husband would suffice.
^ o ^
oitjj , . . . <51^ X {. ^
she would have been an uncle.
E. h. U n,y aunt had been a man ? sh’d have been my
uncle .
Isote, The variant -^.1-x aU)1>
n,.p.o.chos Ihe sense ot th'e K ,.vl>. ^ ^ ^
- a3 =
, If you wish to be a good writer » write » write i and
keep on writing.
E . Practice makes perfect.
‘r''> *=1*'^^ .5>y c-( yiy oi»
* ‘ you know that there is a heavenly reward
for giving bread, eat it yourself, whose belly is empty
( whose Bagdad is ruined ),
E. E. (a) Charity begins at home, (b) He tells me my way
but does not know his own.
T. If falsehood will
save, truth will save still better.
E. Honesty is the best policy.
oJi;) J\ Ij Jpi T. if pupiis>
prayers took effect, no teacher would be left alive
^ ^ o ^
^ w ) U F, T, Even though all
the world were deep in water , he would be deep in
slumber. ^
T uri.. 1; 0 y=(
. It married ‘‘perhaps”, and the offspring was “Would
I have not” .
£. If wishes were horses , beggars might ride.
(^^^1=) y ^^, 1 , p p
to keep thy head ? Then, keep the secret.
E. E. The tongue Ulks at the head’s cost.
jji ^
t. If erery night were the Precious Night, the Precious
ig t would be no longer precious. (Loosely) If everyday
were a feast- day , what day would be festive ?
ote, , the Precious ( or Dear) Night, is the
night on which the Koran was given. A few other nights
have also been called by this name.
3
- 34 -
ju9i f yj^ ^ Jt-
T. Though the fire-worshipper tend ( the sacred ) fire a
hundred years ? should he fall therein for one moment
he will he consumed.
there may be an excuse 5
this is a sufficient one. {Prom the following anecdote'].
Molla Nassreddin was asked one day by one of his
neighbours to lend him his rope. Molla said » “ I have
spread millet on it “How can one spread millet on a
rope? ” asked the other man. Molla answered? “For an
excuse any reply would do.
^ T-. If All is the
camel-driver? he knows where to lead the camel {.lit. cause
him to kneel down). {Prom a story of which one version
is as follows]:
A Sunnite was once engaged in a controversy with a
Shiite to whom he finally said? “You n.ust know that on
the last day our master? Omar? will ride on a camel? and that
the camel will be driven by Ali? whose follower you are.**
“But*’ ? replied the Shiite most shrewdly? “if Ali is the
camel-driver? he knows best where to lead the camel** .
“And where will he lead our Master?’* asked the Sunnite
who was becoming impatient. “Straight to hell” was the
smart reply.
•CJ- ^
Saffie as ^y etc.
T. But for meddlers
the world would be a flower-garden.
< 5 " 4 )
^->1^11 <roni;; jj <r ^.jry\
P. 7 . When you say “I
can do it ” ? you may go on ? for you will be able to do
it i but when you say “ I cannot do it ” , you must sit
down? for you will fail. (A lesson teaching resolution and
determination } .
“35 —
j\j\j E, E. If fools went not to
market) bad wares would not be sold.
T. If the Lur did not go to market) the market’s produce
would be rotten.
No^e. The LurS) who are the natives of Luristan, a
western province of Iran? have been regarded? for no good
or specific reason? as fools.
For a single guest one
could kill a cow. (An excuse for a poor entertainment of
a large party}.
? F. r. If the hread offered
by you is not of wheat? let your speech be soft and sweet.
c-i j={ T. Though we have
not eaten wheaten bread, we have at least seen others with
it (/. we know something about it)
Note. The beauty of the above two proverbs lies in
the words pOrf'and whieh nearly rime with each other.
■» sS?
c-l .JOa igOsilii T. If you have not pissed, the
night is still young. [From the following anecdote"]:
A ehild was in the habit of wetting his bed during
t e night. One night before this had happened, he awakened
his mother and said to her boastingly, “Mummy, I have
not wet my bed*’ . “Don’t you worry” , said thi mother,
the night IS still young” (meaning thereby that there
was still time to see whether he would wet his bed or not)
This IS now said to one who is cocksure that some-
t mg will not happen because it has not yet happened.
a p.
\j lUA cxL sib VJ jCI) <:i(j J ar .to-. ^-,4* P|
r . Should he have seven blind daughters, he can marry
em off in an hour. (Said of a very clever and resour¬
ceful person} .
0-1 ufej siXS il\j^ tj Ui 4*4, /\ T. Though
the whole world were covered with wheat, the food of
- 36 -
the partridge would (still) be sand.
Note, The meaning of this pvb.» which refers to the
nature of a mean person) is quite clear) but hunters have
not confirmed anything which is similar to the remark
about the bird.
Ou-t ^ (jrU.A If it was merely to
please our caprice? this one instance is enough. (This means
that the practice was a mere fad or fancy) and is not
good enough to be repeated} .
wCU Jft! jl> J^\ F. T, When one’s party is ame¬
nable) it is easy to handle affairs.
Note, jb originally means “friend” or “sweetheart”)
and in games “ partner It seemS) therefore? that it has
been used here chiefly to rime with .
E. E- If a man cheats me oncei shame on him>
if he cheats me twice) shame on me.
r-t ^
i . If thou liast cheated me once? may thou become blind?
if thou hast cheated me twice? may I become blind.
k) (A.) ^ . Names (or titles) descend
from heaven.
Note. Iranian names always have Special meanings.
Wv'tsVf (A.) f . Relations are (like) scorpions.
Note, for the Sake of a rime one might loosely say?
“Relations are vexations” .
3^ 3CS
^(xb^Vb {^.) 1 . Generosity is that which is completed.
cf, <r o jtr etc.
Note, Most people substitute “beneficence”
for
( A. ) i . Anticipation
more painful than death.
( or waiting ) is
- 37 -
craves for the forbidden.
E. E Forbidden fruit is sweet.
jOSi j>Jl 'jLJV* ( A. ) T. Man n^akes the plan i and
God predestinates. Cf ^ ^ j etc.
E, E. Man proposes? God disposes.
(A.) T. Paradise is under the feet
(^. influence) of mothers.
OS^ ) There are different forms to madness.
{ Said of? Or to? one who hns an idiosyncrasy}
(A.) T, Generosity with what one
has available is the extreme limit of generosity.
2 ^ < 5 - 3 ^
j* Truth is bitter.
^ o ^
(a.) T, The treacherous man is apprehensive.
(A.) T. Whatever happens is for the best.
£. All is for the best.
(A.) F.T. Though the lesson be only
one letter? there should be a thousand repetitions of it.
(This brings out the importance of drill and exercise) ,
3^ -CJ- 2^
( A. ) F. T. Choose first your companion ?
then your road.
^>a»UI (A.) r. Those who
were first are (still) first; these are they who will be nigh
(to God). Cf. cJ Jii wL«<T etc
First corner first served*
<y
( ol^( (A.) 'I. The sheep (though
small in body ) is clean? while the elephant ( which is so
huge in body) is unclean.
FJote, “Clean here means ceremonially clean and
- 38 -
hence lawful to eat”*
(A*) T. Patience is the key to relief.
E. E, a ) Patience opens all doors, b) Everything comes to
him who waits.
^^UuiXsyjV (A.) T. Contraries do not meet.
(A.) 'E, Verbum sat sapienti (Lat.)» i, e.
a word to the wise is sufficient.
E, £. A nod to the wise? a rod for the fool.
**Aj*J1 (A.) E, E. Man proposes} God disposes.
E. The servant of God makes the plan? and God predes¬
tinates. Cf. <^>1 etc,
-t5- 3^^
(A.) E, E. a) The more haste} the less speed.
E. Haste is from the Devil.
(A.) E. Knowledge (acquired)
in childhood is like an inscription on stone ( f. e, it will
never be forgotten) .
(A.) F. T. The narrator is responsible (for
the truth of the tradition or newS} and I am not to blame
if it proves untrue).
at any straw.
gj? <3-
(a.) E. a drowning
man will catch
E. E, a ) A drowning man will catch at a straw, b ) He
that is carried down the torrent catcheth at everything .
2^ O 3^
cl) j( oiJf Not to know A from B.
^ (a.) E, It is the predecessor who merits ex¬
cellence. { Cited in cases when an invention} theory} or
quotation is found to have been based on a more ancient one).
jl ^itfldlf ( A. ) E, The distributor is either
- 39 -
cursed (by the dissatisfied) or cheated ( by himself) .
V (A.) T, Story-tell ers dislike each other.
H. E. Two of a trade never agree.
^JpJA^i (A.) 'I. Loans ( or debts) are scissors
which sever friendship (1^^. love).
E. (a) Friendship stops where borrowing begins, (b) He
that doth lend doth lose his fxiend. ( c ) A ready way to
lose your friend is to lend him money.
2^ -0- 2^
(A.) T, Heart finds its way to heart.
E. E. ( a ) One touch of nature makes the whole world
kin. (b) Heart speaks to heart.
^ J (31 (A.) T. The generous man keeps
his promise.
(A.) E. One word leads to another.
3 ^ ^ 3 - 2 ^
Ji?. (An Arabic and Turkish combination of little in¬
telligibility meaning literally “O God ? one by one ” ,
but used in the sense of wU-»( q, v. }
<3- 2^
4-^*^ E. E. Save God everything is fancy.
''JLcil (A.) T, A man’s property is the reflection
of (i/7, resembles) its owner. CL <vil^ wL*.#f etc.
^ o ^
jJj*A (A.) T. The agent is not o blame i or one
who is commissioned on a duty is excused-
2^? -O' 3^
(A.) F. T. A traveller preparing is ( dis¬
tracted ) like a madman,
jA> J* (A. ) T. A counsellor ( or advisor ) is trust¬
worthy.
^ ( A. ) T. The meaning is
( ^. ^. mind ) of the poet. { Used of an obscu
in
re
the heart
passage) .
- 40 -
(A.) P.T. The destitute are given
immunity by Ged.
(A.) T. The rare ( Of exceptional ) is like
the non-existent. Cf. j^U ji etc,
J ^ (A,) People follow the
religions of their kings.
(A.) T. Deliverance is in truth.
3^ <3- 3^
(A.) P.T. Whispering is the practice
of the Devil. (Used often humorously }.
^U>Vf^-o iiUaill E. E. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
T. Cleanl iness (comes) from faith.
^ (.^0 P- T. Better fire (D/, flames ) than food.
( Said by children warming themselves in winter by the
fireside ).
P^ote. I suggest a free E. rendering like “Heat is
better than meat ” for those who prefer phrases with
rinies.
<!■ 3^^
(A.) T. Wit in speech is
like salt in food.
3^ -CI- 3^.
^Lof 7 . ( Nowadays ) there
are no 1 m aw-Hoss ctns , though there are still many
Shenifs.
P'Ote. (1) the third Imami was killed by
(2) An English parallel would be “ There are no
Jolins 5 though there are still many Herods ”.
p. -a- ;<v
P. T. From being a
householder Heaven preserve us? for one thing we buy
we lack two.
J\j.> <r
o o
^ T. To-day
when
- 41 -
you are able you do not know (what to do) i to-morrow
when you know (what to do) you will not be able.
If youths only knew > if old age only could.
3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
•ASi T, To-day cash'y to-morrow c ted it,
E. E, This day there is no trusti come to-morrow.
Man hopes for good from others i I hope for no good
from you« (at least) do me no harm.
empty skin takes in wind (/.£’,
an ignorant person is puffed up with conceit ).
I \j T. When the irons
( tongs ) are heated) the thief takes warning.
. tL. When the noose is prepared) the thief takes warning.
T. Be moderate) for modera¬
tion is good.
E, The golden mean ( is best ) .
E. T, For each time one
laughs ) two-hundred weepings await one.
E. E, (1) Sorrow treads upon the heels of mirth.
(2) Laugh before morning > cry before night.
[iS^) j{J \ 4ic <i 4) jL-J ^^JU f
E. E, Little added to little will make much '•> the corn
in the granary is made of single grains.
E,E, (1) Many a little ( of pickle ) makes a mickle.
(2) Penny and penny laid up will make many.
*>
iji .2Jai) F. T. Little
added to little becomes much ) and drop added to drop
makes a flood,
E. E, (Same as for the preceding)
^ . He talks much who knows little.
- 42
( ) JU A little beauty is
worth more than much wealth.
J jlil^ o^ju! T. The heart-broken
(alone) understand the suffering of the broken heart.
E. E, He jests at scars who never felt a wound.
3^ -a- ^
<r<> <r <4ja3f
T. Better to reflect and say> “ What shall I say ? ’’ than
to regret and say “ Why did I speak ? ”
E. E, Think twice before you speak once.
o o o
OhAI) ^Lm)! T*. Man is the bondsman of favours.
( Note the pseudo-rimes ^LJf & }
^LJ( T, Mankind is fallible.
E. E. (1) To err is human.
(2) Humafium est etfare { Lat. ).
^Lcj( til-tfijl T. Equity is one-half of ( religious )
faith ,
0 0 3 ^
^5( ^Xi.i.rVj (a.) T, See what has
said > nevermind who has said it. Cf. etc.
E. E. Do as the preacher says? not as he does.
been
<SjlJ F. T. Don’t pilfer by
drops? and you will need not throw away in skins. \EfOin
the followhig anecdote '] ;
An oil-seller used to sell oil underweight and buy it
overweight. After some years when he had become a
great merchant ? he went on a voyage to sell oil to ano¬
ther country. His ship was laden with skins of oil? which
he was exporting. All of a sudden? the sea became rough?
and the captain ordered the crew and all the passengers
to ligliten the boat. While the merchant was throwing
his oil skins into the sea with his own hands? his appren¬
tice wlio had always watched his dishonest dealings , said
with the intention of aggravating his suffering, Don’t
- 43
pilfer by drops? and you will not need to throw in skins,”
^ . To take one’s finger between one’s
teeth ( i. to show astonishment ).
^ 3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
C»iX)l T, To bite one’s finger ( to regret
or repent i to express remorse ).
T, To put one’s finger in the milk
(or yoghurt)? i, e. (o interfere in some one’s affair with
the intention of spoiling it.
E. To put a spoke in some one’s wheel.
^ o ^
.... t E. E. He is not fit to ( or
can’t ) hold a candle to . . .
T. He cannot be considered the little finger of . . .
F. T. Salt is salt whether a
pinch or a ton.
F. £. 1) You may know by a handful the whole sack.
2 ) We must be thankful for small mercies.
c— jJS' jJ jiit T, The
finger of a craftsman is the key to his daily bread ?
while the hand without a craft is the bowl of beggary.
h ) T- • Fine grapes fall
to the lot of the jackal (or hyena). (Said when something
good falls to the lot of the unworthy }.
^ ^ p.
(A.) E. E. a) Adversity often leads to
prosperity, b) A flow will have an ebb.
f . Verily hardship is accompanied by case.
E. E. Six of one and half a dozen of the
other.
Note. is the Turkish word for “grapes”. One
might substitute some such equivalent as “ Raisins and
grapes ” ( raisins being the French word for grapes).
- 44 -
^ljl» jiu oVjI -.S-'I iV^I P. P- Children are like
fruitsi grand-children like kernels.
Note. means “ almond ” and means
“ shelled almond ” .
Jjt T. Consultation ( should come )
before divination.
Note. ejlTsiMif is divination which consists of consulting
a book) or bidding beadS) at random) and thereby deciding
one’s procedure.
oJjJ CunJ Jjl
T^. Think ing comes first and speaking next) ( just as ) the
foundation comes before the wall.
E. E. Think twice before you speak once.
\j E. First pro ve that
you are a brother) then claim the inheritance.
O-I MO Jjl T. Taste it before you say
it is insipid. ( Counsel against prejudgnient
b T. I will eat first
those which have legs \ those which have no legs will
stay where they are ( provhidal dialect']. From the
following anecdote'^ :
A certain Lur was buying some raisins at a grocer’s
shop. On seeing a few beetles among the raisinS) he put
them one by one into his mouth ) saying > “ I will eat
first those which have legsj for those which have no legs
will stay where they are ”. {This is now often cited by
one who eats first what is less likely to be left at the
table) etc. }.
A . The first glass and dregs ' ? {Used when
bad results arrive unexpectedly early ). Cf. Jj( etc.
F. T. Do not steal the minaret
before you have dug a pit to hide it in.
- 45 -
E. E. a ) You are a fool to steal) if you can’t conceal.
b) Count the cost (before the undertaking). Cf. also Look
before you leap.
Note. The infinitive phrase oJUC)
which means ‘‘ To steal the minaret before one has dug
a pit { to hide it in ) ” is of frequent usage ) but the
E. E. given above should be adapted accordingly.
First one’s own and then the poor.
E. E. Charity begins at home. Cf.
J.1 jji T. First food) then talk.
^ O' ^
C-.I yf> J\ u Jj! E. E. 1) He is wrong in the up¬
per storey. 2) H is cockloft is unfurnished.
E. His wits are spoiled.
Note. literally means “ what 'God has
created first ” ) and hence is used as a substantive mean¬
ing “ intellect or wit(s). ” .
yS F. T. O slender-
waisted gentleman) who darken your house and brighten
the streets.
Notes. 1) The E, ‘‘He hangs up his fiddle when he
comes home” is an equivalent of the latter part of the
P. > provided the necessary grammatical change is brought
therein.
2 ) The phrase J ^ is gram -
matically wrong and should be
o ,
i ojLa) 4r sj
E. Many a swift horse broke down) while the poor lame
ass arrived safely home.
o ^
j\j 1 j 4r < 2 -^.<1
^ \j <r,jj3T Air \j j( <r jU o" r. o sUin
one) whom didst thou slay that thou wast cruelly slain
And then who knows who will slay him who slew thee ?
I Law of natural retaliation] ,
^ o ^
— 46
• P. T- Why ! Isn’t this the
shrine wh^h we have built together? {Prom the follow-
hip anecdote } : , t ,
Two men spread the story that they had both seen
in their dreams one of the descendants of the Imams ap¬
pear in a certain locality. The credulous inhabitants then
allowed them to build a shrine there and undertake its
custodianship.
In this way the impostors managed to make a good
living! and all went well until one day there arose an
open quarrel between them. One of the partners^ in an
attempt to justify himself before the crowd watching
them! pointed to the shrine and swore? “ By this holy
shrine the facts are as I state them ” ? upon which his
partner grew angry and disclosed their secret by saying ?
“Why! Isn’t this the shrine which we have built together?!”
^ E. E. Tit for tat.
c—tcouple
is not a pair.
Note, ®od wV-dXftJb which are the
same? are in these days? according to the revised monetary
system? changed to “70 - seven - tenths
of a rial. A near E. parallel to the P. pvb. would be
“ This tanner is different from that six-pence”.
JLl) talk will not make
a skirt for Fatinieh.
E. E. Fair words butter no parsnips. cf. tt etc,
Tiiis door will not last (long) on
its hinges heel),
E. E. It is a long lane that has no turning,
4> I\ 1 . May one hand not have
to beg from the other hand. (A prayer tliat we should
never be in such a need as to have to beg even from
our kinsmen } .
- 47 -
This time you did not sing
well. (A jocular way of expressing one’s dissatisfaction of
remarks or demands made by another } .
First bring
up the one you have given birth to, ( Said to one who »
before finishing an undertaking and profiting by it> em¬
barks on another } . O ^
(if-i,-) c-.( ^Is-T J 4) j) if 6-^ F. 7 . The road you
have taken leads to Torkestan ( /. c\ you are quite on
the wrong track ) . Cf, the E. pvb, “ The way to Baby¬
lon will never bring you to Jerusalem ” .
t^ote. The first hemistich to this is j y
(■ ' * I fear) 0 Bedouin) that thou wilt
never arrive at the Ka’ba i (for.) .
C«Mi( ^ ^ camel
that kneels at every man’s door ( /. we will all share
the same fate). Cf, the E, “We are all in the same boat”.
T. This caravan will drag on un -
til the last day.
a) It is Penelope’s winding-sheet, b) It is an endless task.
_ ^ ^
O T. Here’s the ball and here the field (/. e,
now you have the opportunity to prove what you claim).
4li JU O* This one is for mC)
the other goes to the pulpit) and the third is the share
of Ghambar’s mother.
t^ote, which is here rendered “ pulpit ”) origi¬
nally means a raised) wooden structure for a preacher) and
this seems to have belonged in this case to the preacher
himself' Similarly) Ghambar seems to have been his own
son. It results) therefore) that the preacher) while distri¬
buting a certain present) was appropriating all of it to
himself and his family) although seemingly to different
persons. The phrase is usually said to an unfair and
selfish distributor.
jT* c>iV^ 1) T. To give a feast with water from
a public bath ( t. e. to entertain at no cost ).
Note. A variant form of this expression is TU
i. €. *^'10 make friends with some one with
water from a public bath”.
? c\j 0 1) ( O * ) ^ Because
of your soft words? or because you pay good money j or
because the way is near ? ( From the anecdote of the man
who asked some one with harsh words to do a piece of
work for him in a place some miles away against a very
small suni of money? and received this answer. The answer
is now applied to cases when there is no encouragement or
good motive to induce a person to do anything ) .
3 I U T. Despite all your
fuss and boasting ? your shoes have no heels. Ct. the E,
*^^Much boast) little toast”.
Notes. 1) howshobowsh consists of two
words and both meaning 'ostentation or pomp”)
and riming with which is a provincialism for
shoe 2) The phrase refers to a false and ostentatious
pretender.
( ^ ^■ To fly with another
person s wings ( e. to act under borrowed strength? have
no independence 01 personal ability ).
^ ^ j\ £,y,'
* My fntKcr died ^ whnt ninttcrs if it was from & hot
fever or froni a cold one ? ( It is not the cause but
- 49 -
death itself which is the essential thing to consider ).
Note. Hot fever” and '^cold fever” are mediaeval
terms in Iranian medical terminology.
oMr^ b b *0 b b r. If you go on foot»
your shoes will wear out , and if you go on your headt
your hat will wear out ( i. e. however you do it > it will
cost you something ).
$ *
b T. To fly with others’ wings. See |b b
^ * ‘
Vj ^ To cut one’s head with cotton .
a) To kill a man with a cushion, b) To laugh in
one’s face and cut his throat.
$ < 3 - 2^2
4 ^^? o^b k^b ©Li- b T, You went in a
black veilj but must come out in a white shroud. (Said to
a bride on her going to the bridegroom’s house » meaning
that she must be faithful to her husband and content with
her future life ).
T, When you are godly » you can behave as a king i
when you are GodlesS) you may do everything.
2^ -O 2^
U **^ T. To go into a sack with a bear.
To catch a Tartar.
2 ^ * 2 ^
i^b tj I ^jb E. E. a) Light come) light go. b) Easy
come) easy go. c) What comes with the wind goes with the
water (Ma/ix).
T. What is brought by the wind is carried away by the
wind.
25i -a- 2^
^Ob , 5 b T. Wind brings rain ? jesting
quarrel.
2^ ^3- 2^
(h ) sZjJj ^b E. E. a) To puff with pride.
4
- 50 -
b) To give oneself airs,
T. To blow into one’s moustaches.
Note, Another form of this expression is ,^0
( i. to blow into one’s nose.
JU f T, To throw wind into one’s sleeves.
E, E. Same as for 0
Note. The above may be extended to read
but it would then mean '^'^to puff some one
with pride”.
.^b T. To have wind in one’s head ( to be
proud or haughty ).
b b T. Put up with the pain so that
you may {or until you) find the remedy for it.
b E. E. He jests at scars who never
felt a wound.
F. 1. He understands pain who has pain.
JJLT^a b b b Same as j) etc.
*^ 4 ^*^*^ ^ Don’t filch, from a
shop unless you (mean to) deal there. (Often used jestingly
to mean ''Don’t flirt with a woman unless your intentions
are honourable” }.
Note, The P. ph rase is grammatically wrong ) and
should better be replaced by the variant form given
under ^
^ o
JT b T. He cracks walnuts with his tail.
(Said of one who is very glad of a success}.
t wA) E. E. a) The cracked pitcher goes of“
tenest to the well, b) A bad vessel is seldom broken, c) A
creaking door hangs long on its hinges, d) The singed cat
lives long .
F, T. No plagues will come to a bad brinjal.
- 51
wlS E, A sycophant! toady? pickthank?
or flatterer.
T. One who arranges brinjals round the dish ( /. e, does a
humble service with the intention of pleasing ) .
^ o ^
j> jL»j 1) T. Get on with your friends i
then fall upon your enemies.
^ o ^
[ JijU. ^ OffcXo I) ^ Generous with
friends and tactful ( moderate ) with enemies
Note, In the first hemistich to this Hafez believes
that such behaviour to friends and enemies brings about
peace for the body and the soul .
^ ^ ^ J*iC^ jm jMt i o,^U
See ufider \j I etc. ^
< 3 -
^2-iJ \j jU E. E, To feather one’s nest,
t. To pack one’s load.
jK) E. E. Eggs are dearer in the country.
Produce is ( more ) expensive where it is produced.
_ o ^
j{> T. To add a load to another person’s
load (/. e. aggravate his suffering) or increase his trouble).
j{) T. A light burden soon reaches home,
Ct. the E. Much coin? much care.
T. Saying ''Well done” to some
one does not make him fat in the thighs. Cf. ^1 etc,
2 ^ <}■ 2 ^
^ load askew does not reach its
destination.
£. E, a) Cheating play never thrives, b) Honesty is the
best policy.
^ o ^
E. j- . In the market one should get good value
for one’s money.
-- 52 -
Nole. This phrase shows a kind of popular etyn^olo-
gy based on a pun ? as means “ market ” and vU
means “Bring back”* the idea being that one should bfing
back something worth his money from the market* as*
for example» one might say* “Market” is a contraction of
“mart” and “ get
J^ soft words
one may persuade a serpent out of its hole. {Gentle means
are always best}. Cf, etc,
jtb ^ • Everything goes back to its
origin .
E, E. a) Blood will tell, b) What is bred in the bone will
come out of the flesh .
{t5-A»-} ^ Better a lucky arm
than a strong one. Cf, .« jf*l etc,
E, T, Playing involves break¬
ing i (even) the breaking of one’s head ( i. e, if one must
play? one must be prepared for the consequences ).
Notes, 1) This is what children cry in chorus when
one of their playmates has sustained an injury* intending
thereby to put him in good spirits. 2) and
are diminutive forms of and
respectively? the former being a provincialism for
which is the imperative or verbal noun from
to break * and the latter meaning “to have one’s head
broken’. Ci, the E. All fellows in football.
^ ^' You may play as you
wish * but will you play even with your papa’s beard ^
{ This means that one must draw the line somewhere }.
Isotc, In the East the beard is considered sacred* and
to even toucln a man’s beard is an insult.
>>lj .Ail <jir oU T, The king’s horse has been called
a pack-horse. {Said to. or ofi one who takes offence at a
- 53 -
remark or is otherwise insulted }.
\j 1) T, To keep one’s face
ruddy by the (very) slap it has received (/. e. to keep up
appearances by utilizing a rebuff? or being patient with
hardships ),
w^;55;j 0 ^ jlT U F. T, To fight with a bull by
striking one’s head against its horns. Cf. ^b etc.
To catch a Tartar,
^ *A<Mb F, T, To give? one must have.
3 ^ < 3 -
(3^»> el^ j:, 0wUt> 1) r. To
catch snakes in a well forty metres deep by the aid of
a rotten rope-and all for the love of Omar. Cf. ^
af 2 d 0^3 oT U etc.
3 ^ < 3 -
y OJ^ c3j \j ^LcU F. r. When the fruit sea-
son comes > the orchardist becomes ( conveniently ) deaf
( ^ to passers-by who ask him to give them fruit free
of cost ).
I^ote. ^Lcb is usually translated gardener
3 ^ { 3 - 2 ^
^ ^ ^ Spend
not your time with the ignoble ? for you will not eat
sugar from mat-reeds.
F. E. You can’t gather figs from thistles ( or Figs do not
grow on thistles ). Cf, ,^| jl etc,
J J*
jOjlf l-ia3 b E. E. a) No use striving against Fate,
b) Accident will happen.
Note. The P. has which means ‘fight(ing)’,
^ "* jl—i JiA^kAT* b F, T, Connive with the headman of
the village before plundering it.
pop
^iAlsA Com! ^b T. Do not do busi¬
ness with the man who has only one leaf in his ledger
-54-
( i. c. whose account-book consists of a single sheet ? or
who has just embarked on business? being in either case a
man of little reliability ).
Note. I have seen in E. the quotation ‘‘God deliver
me from a man of one book’N but am told that by “one
book” is meant “little knowledge”.
<3C*-S^b T. If he invokes Ali with some¬
one? he will not invoke Omar ( he is not a turncoat).
Note. Ali and Omar are two opposing characters in
the Islamic history.
U J l> T. To share the fat of
the sheep with the wolf? and then to weep with the
shepherd .
E. E. To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
Note. The idea of “ weeping ” associates the phrase
with the E. phrase “shedding crocodile tears”.
E. We have seen both your
upper and your lower ( i. e. we have heard all the pos¬
sible excuses ). Frof?/ the iollowing anecdote'.
A certain beggar knocked at a lady’s door. The lady?
who was in the upper storey ? said to him ? “ Had I been
downstairs? I would have given you a morsel ”. On ano¬
ther occasion when the same beggar came ? the lady ? who
was in the lower storey ? said ? “ Had I been upstairs ? I
would have thrown you a piece of bread The beggar
Said? “ O dear lady? I have now seen both your upper and
lower ( ^. c. I know too well what you mean by up and
down ).
^ • There is no colour
beyond black. Quoted in cases when things are at their
worst and a desperate person needs not fear anything
worse j.
9
Note. The proverbs Above black there is no colour”
and bl.ack will take no other liue” have been suggested
for equivalents? but they are differently used .
- 55 -
No more than a nodding ac¬
quaintance with the people of present times.
No^e. 1 which means greetings is assimilated with
> a word marking the end of a remark or task.
iSJ:^ cri ^ ^ Same as 31
eU,
• S O* ^ ^ ^ ‘ to every one else-
hut is it ^'pelas^^ to me as well {Quoted when one uses
a piece of advice against the very person who has given it).
From the following anecdote :
A certain merchant was unable to pay off all his
debts. One of his creditors said he would show him how
to get rid of his other creditors if he would agree to pay
the sum due to him alone. The insolvent merchant agreed
to this* and the creditor taught him how to feign insanity
by pronouncing the word pel as (sack-cloth) as a reply to
each one of his creditors.
Thereafter 5 whenever any creditor approached the
merchant for his claims he only replied) ^^Pel as'^^t and he
was thus regarded as insane and exempt from debt.
After some time when the first creditor and advisor
claimed his debt according to the agreement) the merchant
turned to him and said) '^Pel as'*\ So the creditor angrily
Said) ^^Pelas to every one else-but is it Pel as to me
as well ?”
'■ib 1) E. E, To kill two birds with one stone.
T. To aim a single shot at two targets.
AiljJUJb E. E. a) Between two
stools one falls to the ground, b) He that hunts two hares
will catch neither.
T. You cannot lift two water-melons with one hand.
<r
Cb IjJ> f U F, T. To be inclined because
of a ^*^6hoo”i and disillusioned because of a " piss”, [l^fom
the following anecdote^:
-56 -
A man once claimed in a certain locality to be a pro¬
phet. Whan asked by the local inhabitants to do a miraclei
he said he knew the birds’ languages » and thereafter he
drove away the hens by uttering the word '^‘^shoo”.
The simple inhabitants believed in the false preten¬
der* but after a few minutes* when they saw him make
water in a standing posture > they turned away from him*
Saying* ^^We would not choose a man so shameless as you
to be our prophet”. Whereupon the man Said * Neither
would I choose as my followers people who come in because
of a shoo”* and go away because of a *^^piss”.
Cf. the E, He is won by a feather* and lost with a straw.
jr u Same as 31 etc.
T. Despite his break¬
down he is (still) worth a thousand sound persons.
Notes. (1) This saying applies also to inanimate ob¬
jects. (2) The figurative sense of this saying is associated
with that contained in the pvb. ^etc.
One cannot fly with other
people’s wings. Cf.
s? -O' 2^
F. T. The mother eats of the
cake ( pretended to be ) meant for the child.
ir C-I :.t 0^ OJU F, T. Notice the great
difference between the two distances. ( Cited when there
IS a great difference between any two things I
<5^? To go to the grave { or
the slaughter-house ) with one’s own feet {i e to be
deliberately, but foolishly* self-destructive ).
.Ailiy t,\j JJi ^a.-<<r ilai <3,31
^ Ask what you do not know i ""
For though in that there’s shame *
The shame will lead somehow
}
- 57 -
To dignity and fame.
c, £. He that nothing questioneth nothing learneth.
* O
^ jm <J F, T, Poverty in old age is a
serious thing.
F, E. Poverty on an old man^s hack is a heavy burden.
2 ^ < 3 -
JM jaT<i ^jb E. E. He rons with the
hare and hunts with the hounds,
T. He says to the gazelle. " Run and to the hound,
Seize
^ -O' ^
{i5.Ul ^ Jf ACj-Tjt ^ T. Fear him
who does not fear God.
O ■{J
t <r <?
. Better die for want of meat than hear the exactions
of the butcher.
^ole. The original P. has c-ij /. ^ unplea¬
sant demand
^ o ^
F. An oil lamp is burning
instead of a camphor candle. ( Referring to a poor substi¬
tute ) .
Note, The primitive oil lamps gave a worse light
than the candles of superior quality.
^F. I. Do not blame Moses for the
sin of Jesus.
O^’S^ ^ith the bat of ambition one
can win the ball ( of success ).
^-) T. A legitimate child
takes after his maternal uncle.
<r O) A:k\ T, He beats his own
child to frighten his neighbour.
E. E. Adapt To beat a person to frighten another.
-S8-
^ ^ Mothercraft amounts to agony on
the gallows. (Referring to the pains and worries of mothers
in training their children 3* *
jIjCjj 4so T. a bearded child (/. a man of childish brains).
i58 ■»
c.«( O^b'^5l> ^ ^ The child of one’s old
age is ( like ) a bell hung from one’s coffin.
jJl (» J- T. I picked up a
foundling that it might become a son for mes but he be¬
came my husband ( i. e. instead of consoling me he con¬
trolled me ).
o i38
.jjT ^ Jp Jal) f,et> \j jTj- o\j <r <:^ T. When a child
learns to walk > even a mortar must be hung up on the
wall .
Note, jS-j. = (a mortar made of Stone}.
(jU jA T. A dying child is known
hy its fecal matter. C Referring to the foreboding signs of
anything }.
JU) Same as JU (^tc.
b <5- ^
<r j I
P, ^ . The priest meets his adverse fortune when he is
invited to two banquets in the same evening.
jb <C*-.arb uA) T. When
bad luck befriends a person j he is bitten by a dog even
if he is sitting on a camel.
^ O
^ O^) T, When fortune turns its
backi the Arabian horse turns into an ass.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is ^Ji ^
t, e .. the horse in the
stable.
3 ^
-59-
^y ^^ When fortune is
reversed ? the bride will turn male in her bridal chamber.
«AlC2 ^ ^' When fortune is
reversed j even pap will break one’s teeth ( t. e. when a
person is unlucky* everything, he touches goes wrong).
Note. 1) is originally a very fine vermicelli
served in syrup with crushed ice or snow. 2 ) Another
form of this pvb. occurs as a regular hcmistichi thus :
JUCli)
T -. Do not entrust great affairs
to the small .
tie has no access to the
ass* so he beats the pack-saddle.
£. E. Since he cannot be revenged on the ass* he falls on
the pack-saddle.
ol;f® J c^\ Inferiors sin* and
superiors forgive. E. To err is human* to forgive
divine.
F. T, Where you are a guest*
do not rule the roast .
Note, \jcfjr means the head of a household or the
headman of a village* and hence JP means exerci¬
sing a control as such”.
T, Eat the soup and break the dish ( i.i
which it was served ).
Note. If the imperative forms in this pvb. were
made infinitive* we would have U
which would be an equivalent of etc.
^^ ’ To say* ' Such a one ate
( his fill ) and died ” is better than to say* “ H e carried
his wishes to the grave
2^ -a-
- 60 -
jV J My busi¬
ness is to eat and sleep i and God’s to look after me.
{ Motto of the lazy man ).
.jUil jif {j>) T. The stitch ( or seam ) appeared on
the surface ( i. the hidden defects or faults were dis¬
closed ). Cf, The cat was let out of the bag.
jLiu 4r c-jt U) T. Bad is that which does not exist.
• •
E. E, Whatever is is good.
^ ^' May evils not descend from Heaven.
{Said by one who does not believe in superstitions in reply
to those who attribute events to superstitious causes}.
^ ( S )*-A>T Jll? U
T- , Should the unlucky build { even ) a cathedral mosque?
either the dome will fall? or the altar go askew.
AT etc.
oO) O) {Colloquial way of saying c^l ju a>}. T. Bad is bad.
Note, The note of the quail has been believed to be
is bad”} and hence the bird has
been called ©lA) in addition to the Turkish name
and other names.
3^ 3^
An ill-tempered
man is a captive of his own ill temper.
^ 1^.
^jJJ 7 . To reach ( or join ) hell ( /, e. to die
disgracefully ).
3^ O 3^
jr j
E. E. I beat him to frighten
you ? also? I am talking at you.
7 , I am talking to the door > but O wall? it is for
for you to listen.
< 3 - 3 ^
wU 7 . A bad colour
{ An excuse for bad luck }.
is still a colour.
- 61 -
U ja? F, T, Should he go to the sea» he will
find it dry. { Said of an unlucky person }.
*Ud^l> E. E. Sell not the bear’s
skin before you have caught him.
F. T, When hunting do not promise to any one the gazelle
that you have not caught.
wU L.^ oLm E, E, Cattle do not die from the
crow’s cursing,
F. Hain does not come because of the prayer of the
black cat.
^ ■
1 ^-*" ‘'J (*i' eJ-U ^ 5 lcJl> F. T, No one’s
prayer has brought us herei and hence no one’s curse shall
carry us away.
^Ut ^ ^mistrustful > and you will
have Safety.
F. E, a) If you trust before you try? you will repent be¬
fore you die. b) Be just to all, but trust not all. c) Fast
bind, fast find.
^ evil lest
evil befall theei do not dig a pit, lest thou fallest into it.
olS ^laiOf See Ij etc, and
the appended Note.
jKJb Jlse) 4r (j vKftju r A debtor left
to himself will become a creditor. { Freely } Dun your
debtor before he duns you.
O-uf Same as etc,
__ ^ ^
ojV Jt ^jijj F. I have called the pot a pipkin
Ct. ©Lt etc r r .
? iSJ^, F. Are
you ( really ) ill-set, or somebody
-62-
speaks ill of you ? (Quoted to erophaize the evil effect
of slandering }.
^ draft on the gazelle’s horn { K a
false promise ).
Note, J J could, in a sense, be ren¬
dered To send on a wild-goose chase or on a fool’s
errand”.
(liiU) ju<llo ‘UCiT J ’Who took no pains
attained no ease. etc,
E. E, No pains, no gains.
T, The conditions of that man should be lamented over ,
whose income is nineteen, and whose expenditure twenty.
E. E, (Same as for Ijk^ oT j\ ^tc).
JUlT jj\j wUiT Jt When brothers quarrel,
only fools believe ( that they are really quarrelling ).
c-t <0 s j) <> M <r
T, A brother who cares only for himself is no brother ,
not even kin.
jU3:aA> ^JZ> IpcJ j) E. E, ( Same as for
//c. )
T. Brotherliness apart, the cost of each kid is 700 Dinars
(nowadays equal to 7 0 Dinars ).
o ^
T. Fraternity is equality.
3^ <3- O
<r (o^oT J
T. The head of a household whose income is nineteen and
whose expenses twenty should be wept over bitterly.
E, E. One is never rich until he commences
To keep ahead of his expenses.
t For the unlucky man
- 63 -
adversity comes from all directions ( from doors and
walls ).
( 1 C*Mt\ ^ wp jA c:.^j JO ji T. Death is good
luck for the unlucky.
for him who will get
feverish for you.
to*) T. He who eats fishes’
heads ( habitually ) will always find them.
E. E. An opium-smoker will always find opium.
3^ O 3^
C*-! fS^jl ^ pebble and a dia¬
mond as:e all alike to a blind man.
T, Darkness and light arc all the same to a blind man.
C-#l yS^jl 'E. Such a one is fit for being
placed inside a pillar ( i. €. he is good for nothing).
E. E. He is a pretty fellow to make an axle-tree for an
oven,
^ -ti- $
JU>J^ ^ j> F. T, One kisses an ass’s tail
when one finds it expedient to do so. C/. •>-?■> jl e!c.
3^ * 3S?
j!; y* ^‘ one’s gold were to
be stored awayj it might as well be pebbles (1/^. stone ).
Nole. The first hemistich to this is ^ jj
money ) is to be used for subsis¬
tence ( eating)> O my son !
3^ 3^
P. T. One need not prepare the
manger for every aSS. {This means that such a person does
not deserve the honours given tO) or expected by r him).
aS? -tJ 3^2
j jpc) Ob ,5<,) F. E. For every one who abstains
from eating there is another who is prepared for it.
W 0*^0* tS *y ^ is (like) a mother to
- 64 -
every one elsei But (like) a step'inother to me.
Note. The French have a similar pvB.—I am a mo¬
ther to one and a step-mother to another.
viB j> l\ T. They would not
shut the church to keep out one heretic.
Not e. 1) :>U5^ is used of a woman who i Being in
her periods? is disqualified for saying her prayers.
2) For ^‘^church” the P. has which means ^^mosque”,
^ 1^*0 «^B ^1 ji T. To Burn down a mar¬
ket-place for the Sake of a handkerchief {?. to commit
a gross crime for the sake of a small personal gain ).
Note. The pvB. seems to have originated in Tehran?
where there was a large trading—centre or warehouse? called
**
( originally meaning Caesarea” ).
a> I .>1 4;jiT jtb j Same as etc,
ji ^ kAwl) ^ ji F, T. Things sewn together are
diff erent from things grown together.
Note. For 'sewn” the P. has "tied”. The pvb.
shows the superiority of the natural over the artificial.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
^’ To lie on the back ( i. c, to lead an easy
and tranquil life or to Be free from care and anxiety ).
^ ^j"*j\ T. Collyrium is no use to
Blind eyes. Cf. ^ etc.
^OiLl) ^ • To make ( someone ) sit on his own ass.
F.E. i) To give a condign punishment to someone for his
act. 2) To serve one right, c) To give a person as good as
he Brings.
2 ^ ^ 2 ^
^^ T. Curse on the mar-joy !
Note. is a gad-fly? But jkA
either a mar-joy or kill-joy? or a "wet Blanket”.
2^ ajg
means
- 65 -
( This
Ijp-li ^ji <Ab. jFt (a> itf" UJT
is a variant form of ^sAT la^ etc. q, v. y
^8 «■ *58
oUii ^ o-a 0- c-J ^Uict ^ T. One
cannot rely on the friendship of friendsi much less on the
flattery of enemies .
* $
pU 01^5 T. They call the negro "Cam-
phor from contrariness.
Note. The E. ” Snowball ”, by which negroes are
Mmetimes called, may be considered as a parallel for the
•t. JJ99 Camphor”,
. *58 •» tS
T. Lightning without rain.
M “u ^ "" ^"’Pty promise,
c) Much cry and little wool. r / r
Note The P. phrase means also bragging where there
IS no merit for it.
^‘^fne as etc.
*58 O 8^
On M mean, almwl alwa,, "pa,
'^nd '’■* o'F. T. A henpecked hus¬
band deserves to have his beard plucked. Lit. The beard
which IS in the hands of women had better be plucked.
de/vislr^ ^ *®®^ *® ***® «
"A widow’s mite ” is the nearest expression
S
— 66 —
in E for j>
v-iT^ J> T,1 was killed by thirst at
the brink of the Fountain of Life.
C'f. the E. To starve in a cook’s shop.
4) Ijjjl Jjij Ijilf >S-» cri>- J?
F. T. Boast not of thy wealth and beauty> for the one may
be lost in a single night? and the other by a single fit of
fever.
Note. The form is more
frequently used ? but the versified form here given is? I
believe? to be preferred.
^^ ^ F. T. The rare cannot form a
basis for judgment ( /. one should not generalize what
is rare and form a judgment thereon ) .
jj>
^ ^>1 oJuU J ^ F. T, Go? miserable
beggar ? and beg at another door ? for you have asked a
thousand times (at this door) ? and received no reply.
E. E. Go to another door? for this will not be opened,
^ OwAAlJi The fox > being asked
who his witness was? said? “ My tail ” • (The idea is that
close connections make bad witnesses } .
Cf, the E. The fox w^as sick ? and he knew not where ?
He clapped his hand on his tail and swore it was there.
3 ^ <}■ 2 ^
lZ*-*! ^Whomsoever you see is
suffering from this same pain.
E. E, Every one is in the same boat. (From the usual form
“ We are all in the same boat ” } .
Curse on a bad competitor. (Said mostly
in jest when a bad singer starts to sing while one with a
sweet voice is singing. It may apply also to other persons
of the sa'me trade } .
- 67 -
I T. Naked we have come)
and naked we shall pass away.
^ote. I suggest an amendn^ent in this saying to make
it read oJa I which makes it a
regular hemistich.
J c.«f The naked person fears
not a robber ) nor a pickpocket.
2^ * 3SS
( J> T. To assign ( or write ) on ice
( to despair or give up hope )
Nofe, j has also been used in literature
transitively , in the sense of “ to lay the foundations of
( something ) on nothing. ’’
2^ -O 8^
^ cATo snap one’s finger at
To laugh at some one’s beard.
some one.
JJJ^ jiji J T. Have no faith on (or follow
not) a fat hermit or a thin doctor. (The one shows no signs
of abstemiousness! and the other knows no health lulesi
jCV u-M-ata) eU *
3S? O
J C—* ^ \j jt T, The goat worries about
his life, the butcher about the tallow.
I \j j 1 <lCiT j *1 T u •
^ ^ ^Jjf -L . He IS a great
nian who has many enemies.
a) A man’s greatness is measured by the number of
his enemies, b) It is an unhappy lot which find no enemies.
^jy T. Greatness (or haughtiness) befits
God alone. (Said to, or against, one who shows proud manners)
^ Greatness is attained by
wits, not by age.
. Greatness does not depend entirely on saying; for two-
-68-
hundred words do not amount to half a deed.
E. E. Saying and doing are two things.
b Oj^ jrtj i-Tj) E. T. (They say to the
"little goat > ) “ Live> little goat? for spring will be coming
with all its fruits * .
Cf. the E. While the grass grows the steed (or cow) starves.
Note. For “ fruits ” the original has which is
a variety of melon» and which means cucumber.
^ The scabbed goat drinks at
the source. (The unworthy are often more selfish and
proud than the worthy } .
t3^
y jt To have a thing a great bargain.
T. To get hold of a goat.
oJUmIiI) (c-Pt-* He has not (yet) pissed on
solid ground ( i, e. he has not yet encountered resistance
on the part of those stronger than himself ? or he has not
experienced hard times ) .
otj ya^ Ju T <rcJj.5 Lj T. There
is many a fortune that comes in one’s way i if a man is
not aware of it j it goes astray.
T, We have put up with
a year of it i we can put up with a month of it. ( We
have suffered the greater* we can suffer the less} .
2 ^ <}■
tfis <r^ L-J T. Many a success is found
among failures. Cf. etc.
E. I*., a) Ihe darkest hour is just before the dawn, b) Every
cloud has a silver lining.
ayo -w-
aib jjj
E. 1 . Many a slender form you see beneath the veil i
when you lift the veil you find it is a grandmother.
Notes. 1) originally means “ stature ” .
-69-
2) “ Veil ” } as used here? is not what Europeans generally
understand by it y it is a free translation of which
is originally a large sheet of cloth used by women to co¬
ver their whole body and dress (the Anglo-Indian spelling
of it being ‘‘chuddar'’). The late king> Reza-Shah Pahlavi,
attempted to abolish the » but even tO"day it is be -
ing worn by a large proportion of women.
8^8 -O'
ci.> fill :f\ ^
civ piii :>< jffs <0 pju u <x;-j P. I remained so long
in silence that the faculty of speech was lost to me » and
so long in exile that the idea of home escaped my mind.
SSS <3-
XO v(^ jL«) F. 'P* Gluttonous people are (often) thin.
*^*-“^^* P- He is so sweet-scented»
and he sits in the path of the wind (trofiical).
-^^i***? P- P' He who knows much is apt
to speak a great deal,
T. Much travel is needed
to ripen the raw man.
P- P- Travelling broadens the mind.
Note, < 2 ^ means literally “ cooked or ripened’%
and figuratively “ experienced ” .
P‘ Too much talking is next to
lack of wisdom.
8^ 8SS
( iS-^ ) ^ jA T, Better to die of
Surfeit than to starve.
P, P. Better belly burst than good drink or meat lost.
Note, Some manuscripts give 31
for ^
- I C- .. ^
“***'* AoA Lo A 4^ CaAT* Lrfff
^ • t, Tiie camel was asked j “
backwards ” He replied > “I
' c.iU 1
Why do you pass water
have nothing in conin;on
-70-
with others ” .
ci-i ^ C-.1 g
T*. They said to the camel? “ Your neck is crooked ** . He
said j “ What part of me is straight > that you think my
neck crooked ? ”
^C'AT' j*l fcAizaT*
F. T. When told to carry a load ? the ostrich was a bird?
when told to fly ■> he was a camel.
Nole, jXm which is the P. word for “ostrich”?
literally means “ camel-bird ” ? hence how the bird’s ex¬
cuse is seemingly justified.
( ^XJ <rJ uilaJ J
F, T. With the aid of soft speech and gentle means one
may lead the elephant by a hair.
C w^Lia) F, T. To take trumpery
to Aziz.
E, £. ( Saffie as for ^) ■
Notes, 1) Aziz was the title of the ruler of Egypt-
eitlier Joseph or Potiphar — according to the Jewish and
Moliammedaii Bibles. 2 ) C»b>^ C*£^La) literally means
“ goods of little value ” .
*5^^ ,$ ^ sickly ( tit,
thin) physician and a bald barber should not be trusted.
^f. etc, and the E, pvb. Physician? heal thyself.
s>
jlbAaJ T. . Saying ‘‘Look out” af ter jostling some one.
E, E. (Same as for ^ J;! m etc. )
o ^
c—f C^J' \j <n^ y M F. T. Though
lie has been begging for forty years? he doesn’t know when
Thursday night is.
Notes. (1) Beggars usually earn more on Thursday
night or the ev e of Friday ? which is the Mohammedan
rest-day. ( 2 ) This pvb, has jin implication which is the
- 71
opposite of that of the following pvh.
$ o sSs
Ojljf Jl- jl Ju T. After forty
years service as a groom he will not lose the nose-bag. (Refer¬
ring to some one who is experienced through long service }
o o o
After the death of Sohrab
( a hero of the Shahnameh) the antidote !
E.E. a) After death the doctor, b ) Shutting the stable
door after the steed is stolen (or after the horse has fled).
! ® ^ bAW T. Claiming to be a maiden
after having given birth to seven children (i/7, foals) I
^ ^ On a spiritual journey
there is no consideration of distance ( /. e. remoteness )
between halting-places.
. _ . o ^
To go into a well
forty metres deep to catch vipers? and all for the love
of Satan (/. e, to do rash and foolish acts for an ill-advised
motive). Cf. ea^^^s^Ut?b etc. & i) etc.
tU-l ^loij T. Bagdad is in ruins (/. e. I am» or such
a one is ? hungry). See 4^" j etc.
(tr 5 > *t 5 iiT L:.Af c-toXOVwAj r. On being asked
who his father was? the mule said > “ My maternal uncle
is the horse ” . Cf. I j jZm\ etc,
^ • An idle grocer weighs the stairs
( idle or unemployed persons do things of little or
no utility ) .
jtiXAi P. T. They will beat your cotton ac-
^rding to the quantity of the buttermilk you deal out.
• vj^i etc. and the E. pvb. Pay the piper and
call the tune.
Note. is nowadays “churned sour milk” .
-72-
O* H, E. a) Cut your coat according to your
cloth. i») Set your sail according to your wind.
T, Stretch your legs according to the length of your carpet.
c -J jA E. T, Heavy {Of serious)
duties should be entrusted to men of experience.
c-( tSjfO) L ) JA Ijusdl®
T. On being asked, ‘‘Why don’t you grow hair ? ” the bald
man said , “ I don’t like it ” .
E. E. Foxes, when they cannot reach the grapes, say they
are not ripe.
3^ * 3^
? o.>L, T. Xo which of your tunes shall I dance ?
^ -tJ- 2^
By being killed you will escape
being burnt.
O •t3-_s;8
a> I <0 wT j .^Ji jLf= .,1 j j ^2JLC>
E. T. Better sail in a ship which is in bad condkion than
to do a thing in haste. Cf. ibcaM etc
-ft *
enlist oneself among
the purchasers of Joseph with a mere skein. { Erom the
lollown/g Islamic tradition^
When Joseph was brought in Egypt, Pharaoh ordered
him to be sold by auction. While the rich merchants pre¬
sent were outbidding one another, a poor old woman ap¬
peared an.ong the crowd , and held up a skein of silk ,
which was her only possession , and with which she of -
fered to purchase Joseph.
On being laughed at by the present bidders whose
exorbitanf bids had proved of no avail, the old woman
sai , I know loo well that my insignificant offer could
not fetch the handsome slave, but I wish to have my
name put down in history among the adorers of his beauty-
one who is ready to offer her all in order to obtain him.
<i a,u, r. Do what ought to
- 73 ^
be donei not what you can.
E, E. a) Do what thou ought i let come what may. b) Do
not all you can i spend not all you have i believe not all
you hear i and tell not all you can.
Oji- -0 M JPmj j T. Roses
will not grow from the willow by effort i nor will a
negro become white by bathing.
You cannot wash a blackamoor white.
^ 3 T. Doesn’t it harm any one’s
COW or sheep [From the following anecdote') :
A townsman went to a village on some business. At
noon when it is customary in Moslem towns to recite the
Azan t i. e. the call to prayer? he began to perform this
service in a loud voice. One of the villagers ? who up to
that time had not heard the Azan^ asked his fellow-villagers,
“ What is this man doing?” “He is calling people to
prayer ” ? they replied. “ Doesn’t it harm any one’s cow
or sheep ” he asked. They said , “ No ” . “ Then ” , he
replied? “ let him do what he likes.
Another version of the story , which makes the vil¬
lager a Lur ( Of native of Lufhtan ) , and, as a result of
which the hut aski in his provincial dialect,
S ojU te makes the story more pleasant.
our (jig, p J Y(/hen they
said to the beggar i “ Welcome ” > he came forward with
his bag in his hand.
E. E, Give him an inch , and he will take an ell ( or yard) .
IT F, T. Just give me half a chance
( D/. let me get in ) , and you will see what I can do.
[Quoted with reference to the hidden powers of one who
is not in a position to display them 1 .
Cf. etc.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is
etc.
8^ tl-
^ r JiiJj y>> <J^ i^. When
th^" said to the cat ^ “ Thy excrement is as good as a re¬
medy ” » she buried it. ( Used when some one refuses
from pride to display a talent, or give away son elhing
possessed by him. after it has been much raised} .
Ar<» T. Better to starve
than to eat the bread of the ignoble. Cf.
^ ^ _______
jCU When they told the wolf that he
had been appointed as shepherd . he wept. “Why are you
weeping ? they said. “ Because . he replied i I fear
it is untrue ” .
^j(^JVj Saying “ fire ” will not
burn one^s mouth ( Of tongue ) .
E. E, Hard words break no bones.
b" Axa€> F, T. If you want others
to do what you sayi first do it yourself.
c*-*' iSI, He thinks Ali-Abad is a town
( ^. he is expecting too much ) .
Notes, (1) Ali-Abad is the name of several villages
in Iran. ( 2 ) Some people make this pvb. read ^^^LcXj
.jb I /. e, “He thinks Ali-Abad is a village
in which case by “ village ’’ is meant apparently ” a pro¬
ductive village or estate ” .
j\u JUxif F. T. They
cursed the Sj )arrowi washing his belly to be transfixed by
a minaret. He said > “ You ouglit to have said something
that is l>elievable i for lack of capacity in this case makes
your curse impossible of realisation. ” ( Quoted in cases
when exaggerated remarks are made } .
5CS -t} 3^
jait^ ^ To read the chapter of Y as Sin
- 75 -
in an ass’s ear.
3 lyre in vain to an ass.
Nole. is the name of a certain Surah {or chap¬
ter ) of the Koran.
rT ^
^ If you say? “ Do not see ” j
I will close my eyes i if you say? ‘‘ Do not hear ” , I will
put cotton in my ears i But if you say , Do not under¬
stand ) this is impossible.
oM (J)M^ Jj^ T. Catch him and tie him , and
(then) give him up to the athlete. (Quoted ironically when
a man, who has pretended to be an athlete, or otherwise
able to do any specified thing, has indeed done nothing ,
nt wishes to claim to himself the fruit of the labour of
others who have succeeded in doing it}
(o' I li) ^-9ss«*J flic ^ % T. Wherf^calamity
comes to alii it is pleasant and acceptable.
. I*', a) A company in distress makes sorr
pany in misery makes it light.
Note. A familiar phrase to the sa
I J ^ L
■* *
O * 2^2
Still others
le^s. b) Com
feet
IS
A tA
(j ( I 92. V >
- -- If BalaV (dies; there are
► hers who could call people to prayeA^ i
No,. Ba,a, i. ,h, . u.ck\Si, „ho,
Zr.Ju' **■ ^his pvb. is
quoted when a person thinks he is the only one who can
ao a specified thing.
^ * 2^
^ s r. The nightingales are silent
1 .* • • -s— i I die: yiicni
and the ass is braying. ( Used when some one with an un¬
pleasant voice is singing ) .
^’■«q"e"‘ly heard the variant
^
‘Keep Silent? O nightingales? for the ass is braying”.
- 76 -
This is more piquant^ but the form given above is a re
gular hemistich-
J*i> eriA nightingale
hatches five eggs> but only one of the brood becomes a
nightingale, ( This means that out of several children be¬
longing to the same parents usually one becomes a worthy
Or courageous person } .
F. T. There is no doubt in its being a nightingale i but it
is either unfledged as yet j or it has grown old and shed
its feathers. [Fro7n the iollowing anecdote^ \
Some rustics in Ghazvin found a frog in the field
and took it for a nightingale. But ^ as they were doubtful
about it > they went to F)akhow (a contraction of -
the headman of a village ) > and asked his opinion thereon.
Dakhow saidi ‘‘ As for its being a nightingale^ so much is
certain! but it is either unfledged as yet i or it has grown
old and shed its feathers .
Notes, ( 1 ) This is now cited when one wishes to
lay stress on the fact that some part of a proposition is
certaifh but it is also used when two alternatives proposed
to a question are both wrong. ( 2 ) The ordinary sense in
which the word is used nowadays is “lank or lanky’’ .
In this pvb. j however > it has been used in the sense of
an unfledged chicken.
F, 1, To say) “ I don’t know how to
do it ” is a good excuse for resting from work {lit. is a
comfort to the soul ) .
-D-
E E, It is
woitli a curse { l^t. a curse
not worth a damn »
from God ) .
it is not
I C-cCp- ^Lck3b E, T, W'hy teach wisdom to Aesop?
/i. E. Don’t te ach your grandmothers to suck eggs.
Note. Eoghm aiiy v*ho is said to have been a contem¬
porary of King David) may be regarded as the eastern Aesop.
- 77 -
•-A-J Oii-.IS' (j <Cb T. They sowed perhaps ” {of “if’’) ,
but it didn’t grow. (As for the nature of the word <Cb
see Note. (1) under the next entry}
(<Ci>) coins' <5:b F. T. (Imagine
what would have happened) if I had cultivated the field
and your camel had grazed in it ( From the following
anecdote ) ; *
A certain camel-driver let loose his camel in an un¬
cultivated field belonging to another. The owner of the
field came up and began to beat the camel. The camel -
driver said , “ Why do you beat the camel for no good
reason » since there is no grass on the field ? ” “ But ” ,
replied the field - owner , “ I might have cultivated the
field , and your camel might have grazed in it i imagine
what would have happened then ! ”
- ^ ^ ^ From the above it appears that <5Cb in
addition to perhaps and rather ” , means “ if , supposing
that , and the like. ( 2 ) ^ provincialism for
cr-*® to sow or cultivate ” .
^ Such a beetroot for such
a pot. ( From the iollowinr anecdote ) ;
larae T" ^row beetroots as
H Tt ■ ^ else pre-
large as mosques”. » What ever for.^ ” said the ifJi man.
lo cook ypur beetroots ” , was the reply.
Another version of the story runs thus :
A man said. ‘In my native town they make cooking-
pots as large as mosques ” , and another said , “ I„ our
VI age they grow beetroots as large as houses”. “Where
^n these beetroots be cooked .> ” asked the first man. “In
he pots made in your town ” , was the reply.
- ... ... ^
^ Shouldst thou boast of thy
©a t and beauty j a single night will give away the for-
® single fever will mar the latter.
ote. “ A Bingle night ” is an allusion to one’s
-78
properties being stolen in one night.
Note. Variant forms of the above pvb. are
( /. Boast not of your wealth > for it hangs on a single
night? etc. ) j and etc.
^ ^ moon ?
“ Let me shine first betore you do ^Said in praise of
a woman’s beauty }.
. . . . ^iATJUiC^A T. When they pity the
dead 9 he soils his shroud with his excrement.
E. £. a) Give him an inch» and he will take an ell ( Of a
yard ). b) Give a clown your finger > and he’ll take your
whole hand .
3^ -0- 3^
iJ Threaten him with death? so
that he may be content with fever ( i. by imposing hard
^ ^ * ' *
conditions on some one you may force him to accept easier
ones ), Cf. jl etc.
T. Die and blow. [^Ff07?i the followit2g af2ecdote'^.
Tile blacksmith’s boy? who had become tired of
blowing tlie bellows in a standing posture ? said he wan¬
ted to sit and blow. “All riglit”? said the blacksmith? “sit
and blow”. A few minutes later the boy was again tired
and asked ? “May I lie on my sides and blow ” “ Yes ” ?
said the master? “ you may do so ” . The third time the
boy asked ? “May I blow lying on my face ?” at which
the blacksmith said in despair? “Die ( if you like ) ? but
blow”.
Note. J ? although originally meaning “Die
and blow”? as was shown in the anecdote ? is nowadays
mostly used as a noun or as an adverbial phrase to mean
“( working and toiling ) to the very last minute of one’s
life”. Cf. the E. To die in liarncss.
Aj£u> T. Do not assign work to the unexpe
rienced .
Note. Sa’di has for the above
which ifl a regular hemistich.
a> jlju 6^( j U)
Rely not on him who was horn on the wrong side of
the blanket i for the negro does not become white by
washing.
You cannot wash a blackamoor white. Cf, jSZ.
etc. and also the E. phrase “He washes the Ethiopian’’.
jV jlTLi See under Lj etc.
See under jj U
8 ^ ■{> 1^2
UpL> F,T, You pretend to want it for ine» but mean
to gratify yourself. Cf, etc.
^ote, I have seen also the vulgar form
where the proper names are diminutive forms of
and Oy-^ respectively.
»J^ E, E. (a) She is a woman of easy virtue,
(b) She’s loose in th- hilts.
E. Her pyjamah’s cord is loose.
Notes. (1) The expression may be used also of a man
who IS ( inclined to be ) unchaste > and refers sometimes
to a person’s heretical disposition .
(2) is for men “loose breeches”* and for women “ a
long loose skirt ” { now obsolete ).
4 —« w I U U T. Our dam has been washed away by
water ( /. e. we are ruined* it is all up with us ).
^ o ^
^ oM ji JiOT r. A slave bought with
money is more free than he who is a slave to his stomach.
2^ O. 8^
S ^ • To undermine the wall and
plaster the house-top ( /. e. to improve the outward at
the cost of the very foundation > or to be hypocritically
destructive ).
8 ^ 8 ^
- 80 -
Gentleness will draw .out
a serpent from its hole. Gf. ^
P. P. A sick
person loathes sugar.
^ -O' 8^
JU ^r* <f* JU 4^ ^r* E. E, Do as the prea-
cher ( or friar ) saysi not as he does.
F. T. Pay heed to what is said » not to the person who
says it,
C^-^) jj jtojf jiji <r M ^.oCj ^u»cI <»aT^
T, The sons of Adam ( or human beings ) are fellow-
members of the same body? as they are created from the
same clay ( i//. essence ).
3^ <3- SSS
( 0^0^ ^ ) c—( He is
( like ) the winnower of Lenjan » from whichever €[uarter
the wind blows he will winnow his grain.
P. E. a) He is the Vicar of Bray. (According to Dr. Fuller}
“ He turns his mills and sets them so that wherever the
wind blowethj his grist should certainly be grinded ” .
b) He ia a trimmer or time-server’\
3^ -R- 8^
^ O*^^*** ^ ^ P’ Better a needle that sews than
a sharp sword that severs.
O
^ JC>^1 ( Tur. ) 2, That is all we have got (whether
you like it or not).
3 ^ -0
4-**^ Ci T, Fellow-tradesmen are enemies
to each otlier.
P. E. Two of a trade never agree.
^ o ^
j ejuiU til) bjj)
, Though the mat-weaver can weave > they do not take
him to weave silk,
^ . The ape is a gazelle in its
- 81 -
mother’s eye.
Note This seems to he a translation of the Arabic
pVh. Jlj® <^1 ^
{J.
^ I? h ( Same as 4^_jj) etc. ),
ijS 0)1^ li <u^ r. One cannot kiss by proxy
promising are one
{ r e. he IS never faithful to his promises ).
«■
owl into a nightingale. Ct. etc
^ a) Crows, though they wash, are never the whiter.
) You cannot wash a Blackamoor white ( or There is no
washing a Blackamoor white ).
E. E. He has one foot in the grave.
. One can smell the odour of his “halva”
on the death of a person, is distributed free of cost by his
relatives among people so that they may pray for his soul
(2) The expression is also in common use,
and may be rendered “ to have one foot in the grave ”
8^8 O 3^1
T, He smells of mother’s milk ( e
he is a mere stripling ).
‘Itued ^ U( wLT T. He has
Sion ). ^ ® disillu-
co^Male^W ^ The odour of the musk cannot be
. . Virtue will in the end Be known to all ).
^ A good temper
IS Better than a Beautiful face.
6
- 82 -
? I j>‘ Why be obliged to the base
for two loaves of bread? C/. etc.
No/e, The beauty of the P.i which is lost in the E,
translation ) lies in the assimilated words “two
loaves of bread’’ and 3^ “base people”. Hence the
following free translation may be preferred :
Why bend to the base one’s head ?
In obligation for one’s bread ? .
C.-*t j ^3'J <r bjJ'T. Wherever you go
the sky has the same colour ( i. e. travelling to other
places will not change cause and effect ).
aj-lTUJL*-o^sake of a single
rose one must endure the pain of a hundred thorns. Cf.
U et c.
E. E. No pains? no gains.
O ^
<C) 1 ^ ^ ^ thousand
and one reasons » the first of which is that I had no gun¬
powder. [From the iollow'tng anecdote']-.
An artillery-man » being asked once by his general
why he had failed to fire a gun on a certain occasion?
answered) “For a thousand and one reasons”. “Let us hear
the first reason”? said the general. “The first is” ? Said
the artillery-man) “that I had no gunpowder”. Whereupon
the general said i “You need not mention the remaining
one-tliousand reasons”.
Notes, (i) Another version of the anecdote makes
the number one-thousand ? which is then reduced by the
general to nine-hundred and ninety-nine.
(2) The anecdote is intended to show that one good reason
is better tlum several unsubstantial ones.
aiU a-U
^ . Heaven is that place where no one harms? or interferes
wi th) his fellow-men.
F. f. The
joy of Heaven is not
- 83 -
W
hich
worth being reproached for the favour.
^ote, is sometimes replaced by
means “obligation’’.
^ o ^
^ <51^ <, <, ij T. Heaven is not awar¬
ded fot a price; it is given for special reasons.
o/tf. <51^ means an excuse or pretext? which is not
’ though it gives a literary aspect to
the P saying, as the first , together with the negative
particle in make a pun with *1)1^)
, ^
• <> «Us®J ( Sai/ie as <cJb U etc. ).
tsi. ' ' '
.S^ JAa** 4> T. He gives a quince in order to get a
Village. ®
eref) to catch a herring ( or mack-
Note. In view of the riiniing words <: and «.> , the
renc pvb . “ Conner un oeuf pour avoir un bcEuf ” ,
W ich means “To give an egg in order to get a cow” bet¬
ter approaches the P. in neatness.
-■ No liquid whatsoever can soften him.
I Said of one who is adamant on some point I
originally means “to soak”,
f ^ ^
2 . The uncivil person
IS (always) solitary, though he be with a thousand.
^ villd Ji,J ) a) i P r r A- J
tS- V reduces
even the I'irmament to slavery. Cf. Ij etc and
the E. pvb. Hunger will tame a lion. " ’
* e a-l^ Bondsmen wore anciently ear-rings, and hence
<Ui:> came to mean a bondsmani i/V, one who wears
the ear-ring ( of slavery ).
ol;(> ji F. T. Though you
e exander of your day, do not go to a tavern ( /. e. a
fld place ) without a spiritual guide.
- 84 -
\jt> 4r i;:.-*** (^a*? {Same as a*) e/c.)
^ without butter. ( Said of
a very clever or resourceful person ).
jIlS* T. No money* no wings.
H. E. Money makes the mare go.
c>^Sbj§ J JuT^^^lc tj T. Behistuu was carved
( virtually ) by love * but Farhad had the fame. ( Refer¬
ring to the versified Romance of Khosroiv au.^ Sh:r}fi t
or Shtrin and Ear had', by the poet Nezami '].
jjS~ 1. The illiterate person is blind.
^ o ^
^ZrnJZm ^-*5** ^ break eggs in sonie one’s hat
( /. e. to disgrace him ).
Note. This is an archaic and rare phrase.
^ O ^
w*«'^ ^ ■ Only God is perfect. ^ Said as an
excuse in case when a person is said to have certain
faults }.
^ O
I M Ji) ^ Ois Oil ^jiu
' . Advice given from a good motive is sweet as sugar,
but given from a bad motive* it siiackles the feet .
Um ly jIT (yUK*> F. 7 . Give treatment to those
out of health* and employment to those out of work.
^ < 3 - 8 ^
^ * He {or it ) is not worth a penny.
F\ote. or ‘^black money” was made of cop¬
per* and was in currency in Iran up to 40 or 50 years ago.
^ o ^
w*-*lc*—* I . He gets drunk with a single glass. (Some¬
times Said of a person who is satisfied with a small bribe^.
^ 3^
- 85 -
{Same as ^)" viO b etc.)
siA*i T. It is not worth a barley-corn.
£. It is not worth a pennyi I would not have it at a gift.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
<> ^ • One cannot hold two quinces
in one hand.
£. Between two stools one falls to the ground
Note. The pvb. wih U etc. is more frequent-
ly used than the one here given.
3^ <3- O
^To pray facing two altars
( to be double-faced ).
I". T. To cause a single nod (or wink)
to serve two purposes, Cf, b etc
f^. c. To kill two birds with one shot.
yr 7 To shoot two ringdoves with a single
shot (lit. dart) . Cf, the pre cedi fig pvb. and ni ^ b etc,
j J oir i y, J‘ C-IU; JUlflT ^C.I T. They
said to someone , “ Your father died of starvation ” . He
said, “ Did he have (food) and not eat? ” (Cited in cases
when indigence serves as an excuse for not spending)
■o 0;
• t
M:ir j <)L oi* ir^- jkiiip c*>
<UU caA T. A per-
son ) being asked whether he had some vinegar which was
seven years oldi answeredi “I have got some? but I can’t
spare any”. “Why.^” they asked him. “Because”, he said,
had I given a little vinegar to every one who asked , it
would not be seven years old.
.^1 4) 7. Forced labour is better than unem¬
ployment ( or idleness ) .
hJote. Those who d<j not believe in doing a/iy(hing
for nothing turn around and cS-’K.) making the pvb.
read c.-f
which is what the British be-
86 -
lieve y for I have seen the E. pvb, “Better sit idle than
work for nought ’’ .
T, To dash into the water without (looking
for ) the ford.
E. E. To leap before one looks.
Note. This is gramhiatically adapted from the more
usual form? “ Look before you leap” .
His spade will take up a thousand
maunds of water ( He is a man of great influence ) .
A sick person needs attendance.
Note, It is the riming words and which
gives a proverbial shape to this saying.
40 jLo*^ T. When a sick man is
being well tended ? his doctor comes uninvited ( /. e. he
is not needed ) .
OJ 4iU T. Where there is no yeast { i. e. leaven ) »
the bread becomes unleavened. ( Freely ) Capital is the
leaven of business.
Note. 4)U or more fully means yeast) but ‘OU
Originally means the capital or essential part of anything,
^. To give one the hang-over i
but not the wine itself ( /. e. to cause one to suffer the
evil consequences of anything without allowing him to be
benefited by its advantages )
wb (JtLw-J (A.) T. Between friends ceremonies
disappear ( lit. fall down ) .
2^ O 2^
If you blow liis nose » he
will die. ( Said of a very weak person }
( - - O; 0 ^ • He whom nobody
in the world envies is destitute of talents.
- 87 -
Cf, the E. A man’s greatness is measured hy the number of
his enemies.
A vain affair ( or an unreal
matter ) would not need such a long discussion. ( Often
meaning that the wonderful world with its creatures are a
proof of the existence of a Creator ) .
^ ^ • To kick away one’s luck (/. c. to forfeit
one’s chance ) .
<!t ^
jUa.i ^ 5 ( j) U r. He sews footwear for the Devil
he is very cunning ) .
Note, As the figurative sense of is “entangle¬
ment or “difficulty ”5 the above phrase means really “He
involves even the Devil into difficulty”.
iSJ^ To put one’s foot into another
man’s shoe.
poke one’s nose into another man’s affairs.
iSJ> ^ ^ To put one’s feet in one shoe (/. e,
to take up an obstinate or uncompromising attitude ).
Note, A near E. parallel would perhaps be “to harp
on one ( or on the same) string”
3 ^ -0
{ cgj- j\ w;-l 4) 0 r. Defer to walk
oarefoot than to wear tight shoes.
Note. By the expression “ tight shoes ” Motvlavi al¬
ludes to an ill-matched wifei and this is confirmed by the
second hemistich which is 2Cr45lj.jju( 4 r 4 ) c.) ± i.Tn
T. To talk with one’s feet in (or toward)
the air.
E. Not to have a leg to stand on.
{\j c-jb ^ 1 ) \j l> (Same as etc, )
o f
- 89 -
th ^ ^ ” 1 -^ ’ ■ "'®‘^® "®®‘* advice from'
the wise than the wise have of the company of kings
, $ 82?
i_-» oJ^U. fi u £ £ jjg cunning as a fox > he is a sly
old fox i he is a slyboots.
His crupper is worn out.
JLtjU r. A. friend last year and an acquain-
ance t is year ! { Said to a friend who is met for the
irst time after a long period. The phrase is rather jocu¬
lar and not very polite }
M — . O «• 828
^IJT Ja- I, To trample on justice.
serpent s) tail (t, .. to raise trouble. Cf. the E. Let sleep-
ing dogs lie ) . ^
Note, The variant c 4 j Lj hoc 1
been heard. ^ ^ ^ has also
b I\ T. He wins who persists.
»• . 30? o aO?
J Penelope’s winding-sheet.
. The^ Saddle of Antichrist’s ass,
^ote, the Islamic Antichrist , is believed to
possess an ass which has no saddle Evervdav h*^ ^
h n.self with making a saddle for the ass, but whatever
has been done by him during the day is miraculously un¬
done overnight. ^
, 82? «• 82?
^ His {or her ) pack-saddle is askew. (This
neans that such a one is ( inclined to be ) unchaste or
heretical. Cl. c-( Ji
•. £. She is a woman of easy virtue i she is loose in the
hilts 1 she is a light-skirls,
/■■. r.'ro step over the line ( i. e. to
B ray from the path of duty; also to disobey ) .
- 90 -
{ ^Ua; J E. E. a ) The darkest hour is
just before the dawn, b) Every cloud has a silver lining.
T. The black night has a white end.
Nole. The first hemistich to this is
CUmI i, e. There is much hope in despair.
<> O Same as etc,
8^8 -O'
CmkI jl) ^‘ ^' The leg of a lamp never
receives the light. {This means either that men do not see
their own faults ? or that the shoemaker’s wife goes the
worst shod » or else “ The nearer to church » the farther
from grace ” .
\j ol A;l«uJb r. Tie your
cock’s legs and don’t say that your neighbour’s hen is lewd.
{Used when a man’s son has a liaison with his neighbour’s
daughter) or in other similar instances} ■
(^b I. The ass’s foot may once slip info
the ditch. {Caution against over - confidence } .
3^ O 5CS
{ ^lS)lg*)b <r <) ^5b
E, Better in chains and with friends than in a garden and
with enemies ( lit, strangers ) .
wA^ b E, I. He cannot be tied down on his
feet ( i. e, he cannot contain himself for joy ) .
^ sCs o Si^
\ ^ ^tt)b E. E. He has one foot in the grave.
^. His foot is on the verge of tlie tomb.
^ o ^
->>> J jlc P. T. Til ree things which
no one has seen : the snake’s feet ? the ant’s eyeS) and the
//11 cl s bread. { The I^ullahs ( uv priests ) arc usually
considered to be inhospitable }
o ts,
0'^y*0 b.) ^^b i . To carry a grasshopper’s
- 91 -
leg to Solomon .
# j grasshopper’s leg was, according to Islamic
traditions , what the ant presented to King Solomon , and
may be considered a parallel to the E. “ widow’s mite”
Ct. 0-1 gtc '= ■
■&
^-^4,1, 4,1, g £ g
der IS chmLed.
One must go up to the roof step by step.
U> l* VU yi> ^ U JJU T. He won’t sit
down at the bottom , and there is no room at the top.
I Caution against arrogance* which will find no place) .
(«* h OVU Ij Same as \j oVb etc
If you spit downwards your
ear is there > and if upwards your moustache, f Used
when some one is on the horns of a dilemma ) .
T cause some one’s permit or
ocument to float on water ( /. e. to divulge his secrets
and put him to shame )
If you are a man* be your own
ather ( t. e, stand on your own legs ) ,
0-1 M L( J-.C r. The father
as plenty of honey, but the son’s constitution is overheated.
. t2. The father has a fine wine-cellar, but the son is
allowed Only Witter.
^Vjli JM/I-. The parents are attached
to the child, the child to his dog, Ci. the next pvb.
JLJ 1 -M 3^ <r 2^
^ (3*“ J jUJ 7. The father and mother are shame-
ess overs ( /. e, they are unrequited and still persistent
lovers of their child ) .
- 92 -
..hAjUxp' \j\mS 'JijLo JjJi P. T, To disturb some one’s deceased
# *
parents ( /. to cause them to turn by cursing them).
) Jj oO^ri^ ^£jJj oMTi jI He whose daily bread is
scanty has a distracted mind.
Note, The beauty of the P. lies in that the same
adjective is used for “ bread ” and “ mind ” . A near E.
parallel would perhaps be “ He whose daily bread is scat¬
tered has a scattered mind ” > though a scattered mind is
different from a distracted mind.
O***^*^-/? ( a ) To let the cat out of the
bag > (b) to throw off the mask.
To unveil a matter.
U T. Don’t tear another
man’s veih and your own veil shall not be torn ( /. e. Do
not put another man to shame by disclosing his secrets >
lest you have the same fate ) .
Note, The expressions and the more
literary form J*re common idioms.
3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
(^ ) T, By asking one’s way one
can get to India.
Note, The variant form 0^“*^
which is less often used> is a regular liemistich. Here
Kaaba ” replaces ‘‘ India ” .
“the
^ o
/ . 7 . Neighbours are answerable
for one another. ( Quotation stressing the ties of neigh -
bourhood } .
- . . , ^ o ^
t—^ T. The eagle’s wing is a plague to him.
Tliis is apparently adopted from a versified
story attributed to Nasser - Khosrow. According to this
story , an eagle boasting of his keen sight was shot down
by an arrow, in which he could See a feather from a bird
of hi>. Own kind, whereupon lie exclaimed, 1 toLo.^!
i. e. “It is amongst us that is against us”. Cf. the latter pvb.
- 93 -
words than one go to
a argain (or More than one word goes to the market)
i . Too much talk is fit for (/. allowed only to) the Koran,
r .
i5-c-i ] JU I w 0^ <j Ci *1 T X* A 1
•/", - 15*^jj ^ ■ It does not become .i
host to behave as a physician ( i. e. to advise as to diet).
45 ^ JJ £• £. (a) Great boast little toast. ( b ) He
robs his belly to cover his back. 1 o ; He
• A ^od personal appearance and an empty pocket.
Ole, IS from the French “ pose ” .
r . _ 2^ O 2 ^
iL-T . j £
o:#v X.. ^ ^. ji,ase must of neces-
ily come after hardship.
£. It is a long lane that has no turning.
^ «-rJ ^ When we are gone , let the
( whole ) world be flooded
■ . When we are gone, let happen what may.
lent. following exact equiva-
lent: ^pres tnoi le deluge ^
‘^nllthe^u ^ r. He has bitten his
reast. {Said of a wicked and characterless person).
f^h^m ^ “> " “"'y
be taken ' for her to
lon.,y .„d 1”, ‘ '■
3 ^ ■&
^ -’‘H ^
• When a son abandons his father’s ways , call him an
alien) not a son^
the E, Like father j like son.
t'^-^) Jm 0 T. Noah’s
- 94 -
son associated with bad people i ( thus ) the prophetship
was lost to his family.
^ < 1 - 2 ^
jm S Boys and girls are ( like )
watermelons which have not been cut open ( /. their
characters are unknown until after marriage ) .
j^, O OfcAil* T. The cow’s leavings should be
given to the ass. C/. etc,
2^ iV O
C*«*J cJmt wJ'jj) c*^ 2 . He has been brought up behind
the bin ( /. e, he has not been in society and has no ex -
perience ) .
Note. is a large earthen bin^ often built in the
wall of a cellar! and used for keeping flour designed for
gradual domestic use.
* 0 -
To make the back of one’s eyelids thin
(/. to give oneself airsi also to act lackadaisically).
T. To pray behind {or under the
guidance of ) some one ( /. to have faith in him 1 to
rely on him ) ,
<5'*^ ( C.-1J Same as ^sJiloT ^jT
'■'A ^ ~
cjK) i . His back is against the mountain (/. e. he
feels himself in a strong position )
^ < 1 -
C...J J E E. He is two - faced ( or double -
raced) .
1. One cannot tell his back from his face.
^1/ /~f‘ ^ sheep’s dung with currants
• ^^•''‘‘1 “f « low person) .
n e, look how the sheep’s dung has mix'ed hTmseU S
the currant !
- 95 -
} c-jl at c.»>U j <U* U Ij oij) ai ^
. Gnats . when in great numbers > beat the elephant 'with
all its fierceness and firmness. (This is intended to empha-
size union » as well as strength or numher }
< 3 -
U «bt< T. To shoe a gnat in
the air.
E. To break fly on wheel.
^ r. He has been kicked hy a mosquito
Of gnat ). ( Spoken in jest of one who exaggerates his
indisposition }.
. 2^ -O'
' F. T. Mo-avieh^s food is richer. (Quoted
when one flatters or serves the rich classes}.
Note. was the Ommiad caliph who opposed
Ah, the Prophet’s successor, and around whom the populace
gathered because he was influential and rich.
cotton in one’s ears.
^ £. To turn a deaf ear. ( to some one ).
T. The five fingers are brothers
but not equals.
c-.*5 I? J ^ h 4^^
• To grapple with a lion and to strike one’s fist against
a Sword are not what wise men would do.
. the E. There is no playing with edged tools.
t- * 5!^ 2^^
^ ^ * Advice to the foolish is
like rain on brackish ground.
Note. For ‘‘ rain on brackish ground ” the E. has
“water on a duck’s back” for which JUif* j is a
better equivalent.
o Good advice beyond all price.
• Each piece of advice for a hundred tomans .
- 96 -
j\ ' To pull a dog’s skin over
one’s face ( t, e. to assume the most Brazen impudence ).
^ <y ^
'*^**'^1 Nothing but skin and bones ? bare-
bone(d).
^ To tear some one’s sheepskin coat
( to spread scandal about him ).
^ O ^
j\ ^4? To carry steel to India.
E. E. ( Same as for j j ).
^ o ^
o*>? o^-' <u T. It is money) not lifo
that might be given easily. { Used humorously as a pro¬
test against) or an excuse foD stinginess }.
O-H Jit- T. Spend money, and you can
play the kettle-drum on the Shah’s moustaches. { Empha-
sizing the power of money ).
«• sSs
boljj:.' I'.T. Why give the speech¬
less money to one who has the faculty of speech ? { Caution
against giving one’s money to a plausible person who will
pocket it
O <}• 3^
a:C.«U.) hJjlJjl P. T. Money begets money. (C/7.) Money
finds money ^
to earn money, but di'Tficuh to^ke''ep if’
-Tr-'’I/ •"
^ J { t. e, Jt 15 easy to earn
money , but difficult to spend it )
^u* Money
unlawfully earned is spent for bwl • i ii- ^
prostitute. ^
Ill got) ill spent.
Tl,. P.
- 97 -
has Been used chiefly to rime with ,
J T, Money is the resolver of diffi¬
culties.
E. E. Money is a sword cut even the Gordian knot.
"-oney i"
tZflLnZ ^ -oe^^ive
fidence and order prevailing in a country ).
AUzanllra.^""' “"** *" P™--ce of
Vm^***^ a ^ ‘=“‘ "f paper.
£. E. Money doesn’t grow on trees.
a*'^ V “** '^*‘h money.
• • n ass IS hut an ass, though laden with gold.
ijg * ^
SO mn^ J^l F. T. As dust goes on dust»
so money goes on money.
fhe^JhLTn""’' “* Sive to
yhia'’u ***
E. E. He is rolling in money. He is a money-bags.
^ P®""y eemes
one^ K ^ makes
house too small and one’s wife too ugly.
l^ln^y ( t c ^ 1 ^ li market is
wiH. ^ y®"*’ ’ tke market is
me, or, if you refuse to give me such and such a thing,
t can buy it myself in the market ).
•» « «■
« A ♦
7
- 98 -
S iC- u T. Does my money ( lif* our money )
Bear the stamp of Otnaf ? { i. What is wrong with my
money ? )
Note. Otnat and A.li are two opposing characters in
the Islamic history i as the Shiites Believe that the latter
was the true ^’uccessor of the Prophet? while the Sunnites
Believe that the former was his true successor.
The wrestler falls to the
ground for the very reason that he knows too many tricks.
P. E. (a) Good Swimmers are oftenest drowned. (B) Clever
people often miss their way.
aS * O
The living athlete is to Be
adored /. The one that has Been killed in wrestling
needs not Be dreaded. This is said? or believed to Be said?
By one whose employer or chief is dead or dismissed from
office? and who does not care for him any more).
aS? <3- 2^?
To tread on dung spread to dry ( /. e, to
Be unemployed or idle). f/ye E. to twiddle one’s thumbs.
^ ^ T. Dismount and let us walk together.
E. E. Draw it mild. Cf, To come off one’s high horse.
4 . 5 ^^ ^ A rolling stone gathers
no moss.
T. The onion of him who never settles down does not
take root.
^ o ^
has thought itself a fruit . Said of one who from pride
or folly mixes with those greater than himself ).
wUa -p grey hair is a
message from Death.
aIU T. Dead drunk {or Blind drunk) from the
first glass ? ! C/. .sjj j Jj)
- 99 -
To make the cat lose its way. ( This is
usually done by carrying the cat in a bag for some distance
and then turning it loose }.
E, To lead some one off the track.
^ T. He looks for a dead
ass in order to take its shoes ( /. He tries to get a pro¬
fit from anything ).
T. It is more visible than the
mole on a beautiful face.
B. E, It stares one in the face ; it is glaringly obvious.
£. £. (1) To make capital of. (2) To make
a faked evidence of. {From the historic incident of the
opponents of Ali raising the blood-stained shirt of Osman
on a banner , and demonstrating against Ali, whom they
declared to be the murderer of Osman }.
F. 7. To rend one’s shirt (i/7, to make a
gbab 2 L out of one’s shirt ).
^ote, L§ vas a long garment open in front, worn
by men.
. _ O -O' 2^
2”. Send not an
old man to buy an ass, nor a young man to choose a wife.
V The one is satisfied with any speed, and the other with
any beauty ).
... - sC? 3^2
^ C-.5 h
i. The old woman could not reach the plums, so she
Said, “Acids do not agree with me^’.
Foxes, when they cannot reach the grapes , say they
are not ripe. Cf, xiiT J«C
Nofe. The wording of the pvb. , as given here, is
grammatically correct , but since it sounds bookish, the
vulgar change it to read cJfo)
2 ^ * 2^2
- 100 -
‘j3j woman did not die >
and when she did> it was on a rainy day.
8 ^ * 2 ^
<U*)^ jfl.) T. The spiritual guide makes
*( the vessel ) i the disciples put on the handle ( i. the
spiritual guide forms the bare doctrines but the disciples
add to it traditions and superstitions ).
J sS^l taken to be the source
of a thousand faults and weaknesses.
T. To put stuffing in some one’s
pack ' Saddle.
E. E. (a) To stuff ( or load ) some one with flattery.
(b) To lay it on thick ( or with a trowel ).
F. T. O Fate i where wilt thou put me ? — on a golden
throne? or in the ashes ?
Note. (1) The original has ‘forehead’? which
tit
rimes with • A man s fate was believed to have
been written on his forehead. (2) Sometimes this is shor¬
tened to ? I jc
take the pulpit before the
preacher ( /. e. to prejudge ).
Note, is a theologian or preacher? who ascends
a raised wooden structure called matnbaf.
* ' ■
F. Do not open a shop in competition
with your master { 1/t. a shop before your master’s ).
F. To weep before the fowzek-
khan ( the man who recites the tragedies of Karbela> and
makes his audience weep ),
E. E. To be more catholic than the Pope.
! sJ* F. T. Mourning ( lit. “Woe” ) before
- 101 -
the death ! (Said when one fears the worst, before the
worst has come ).
Everybody is speech¬
less before { . has no answer to give to ) the liar
B. He that does not speak the truth to me does not
believe me when I speak the truth.
2^ <5- aSs
^.7^. Seen from the front it is a
mole > but seen from the back it is a hole (Lit, pit ).
JjA T, Don’t go to a ( mere )
physician i go to an experienced man.
Before a physician he is an astrologeri before an
astrologer he is a physician i before both of these he is
neither a physician nor an astrologer J while before none
of these he is both a physician and an astrologer. ( Said
of an impostor }.
ojjf F, T. The squint-eyed is after all better than
the blind.
Notes, (1) means ‘ in comparison to ’ ? or ‘as
compared to’. (2) The mute o at the end of jjT and ^jS
corresponds to the E. definite article ‘the’? but its use is
restricted to colloquial language.
J:>ji ^
What ! will you turn somersaults
before a tumbler ( lit. clown ) ?
J ^ cTH the
chaplain danceS) you may imagine what the congregation
will do.
Notes. (1) originally means one who leads
others at prayeri standing in front of them? but
is a word coined for use as a correlative of and
is intended to mean one who follows the chaplain at
prayer 9 standing behind him. .(2) ^9 or is moving
- 102 -
the waist or other parts of the body in dancing.
JT To go to meet the wolf.
H. E. (a) To Idck the bucket > (b) to go off the hooks.
ti Kt
^jSS 1 J There is no pride with prophets.
( Vfom the following anecdote'] •
A man once pretended to be a prophet. In order to
verify his claim » his audience asked him to bid a certain
tree to come forth. The man first made the attempt? but
when it proved of no avail? he said? “Prophets have never
been proud ? since the tree is not coming to us ? we will
proceed toward it.”
O *^A carry an elephant up a ladder {i.
to try to do something impossible ). Cf, the E. To carry
water in a sieve ? to flog a dead horse ? etc.
jlIT 1) a>b <i \j oJliU T. To pull out an ele¬
phant stuck in the mud? a stronger elephant ( Ift^ a king-
elephant ) is required.
w.#nt 0 , 3 jr T, The elephant has remembered
India ( i. e, such a one has become homesick ).
Note. In quoting this phrase is usually changed
^ y His s measure is now full. Cf. ^
^ w “nr
E. E. His days are numbered.
2 ^ < 5 - 2 ^
anie as the preceding with a replace^
ment of ^ by y ^^overf lowing"*^ ).
3^ <3- 8^
oLmi T, To send ( some one ) to fetch
black peas.
Notes. (1) This message is given to a child when the
sender wishes the recipient ? who understands the message?
. to keep the child out of the way. Hence? the expression is
- 103 -
used to mean “ getting rid of some one by means of a
subterfuge”. (2) The E. proverbs “To send (some one) for
yard-wide pack-thread” and “to send ( some one ) on a
fool’s errand” have been suggested for use as equivalents ?
but I believe the first of these is more of an equivalent.
^JkJU (o^') <> 1 Jij^ O r. To rub one’s body with the
tallow got from something ( To anticipate? or be ready
to run? a risk? and stand the consequences thereof).
<> O When a man has too much
tallow? he uses it to rub on his heels ( f. e. an excess is
used wastefully ).
^ When things get to
the worst they will mend.
T-, A fish is not caught till the water is muddy.
Abf \} T. As long as there are fools
in the world > the poor will not be helpless. C/. J
^jy‘ jljh, e^c.
^ote. In view of the general predilection for rimes>
the words and liAiLoirf^ are usually changed respec**
tively to and as allowed in colloquial language.
b (j F. T, Until you take the risk of a
plunge? you will never become a swimmer.
Isyiifi-X) U* T. I advanced in
knowledge to that extent that I knew that I did not know.
Who knows he knows nothing knows much.
Cf. <r I eU.
C.-U IT T, So that he may un¬
derstand how much butter can be obtained from one man
( 3 kilogrammes ) of yoghurt. { i. e. I will serve him out
and let him know where he stands ).
^ b IT T. Unless the dog is
trodden on the tail ? it will not bite. { A pvb, indicating
the necessity of provocation for evil acts
■X.j jUU Jg IT E. E. When things get to the
worst they will mend.
f . Until things fall^ into ^sorder > they will not assume
good shape. Cf. * 53)1
- 105 -
c^- \S E.E. To the ( very ) end.
Note, literally means the t of tammaty
( J ) an Arabic word used at the end of a book to
mean that it is finished. An E. parallel would be “to the
s of
fcA) jT \S T, By the time you have been brought) I
shall have been taken away. Cf. ^
2^ -O' 3^
oil) oOijr^U (I L ) JOjT JI^C j\ JbJ 1)
T, By the time the antidote arrives from Chaldea ( lit,
Iraq )> he whom the snake has bit will have died.
E. E. While the grass grows the cow {or the steed) starves.
Coii^ p JT" l> E, E, (a) Make hay while the
sun shines, (b) Strike the iron while it is Hot.
(c) Hoist your sail when the wind is fair.
T. One must bake bread while the oven is hot.
F. T. While I could I knew not i alas ! when I came to
know l^had no ability.
E. E. If youth only knew i if old age only could.
6 ,^ir Jjjb h^JS jI ^ T, So far
as possible •> do not tear another man's veil ? so that your
veil may not be torn by the veil-tearer> ( /. the betray¬
er of secrets ). ( This means freely “ Do not expose any
one to shame) that no betrayer may put you to shame ].
(dJ-x-) oil} Ubju-oo joiir
F. T. As far as you can do not hurt any one's feelings {or
do not annoy any one )? for on this path you may tread
on thorns.
far as you can? gain some body's heart by kindness i it is
no great feat to disappoint him.
- 106 -
jT o^v5**^ 4^*^^ ^
F. T. As much as you can) be bent on the soup » what
matters if the bowl is not made of porcelaine ? {The con¬
tent is the essential thing > not the container }.
3^2 <1“ 2^
<><> ^ ^y> jS^ y If you
think too long about my trousseau ? mother > my chance
will be lost.
Note, (1) which is a contraction of c.*S’c> cIam
means ‘‘unlucky’\ (2) In spite of this contraction the rythm
of this verse is unsound.
By the time you
tune we shall have ended the finale.
E. E. So me would play a tune before you can tune your
fiddle.
Note. j is the last part of a musical performance)
which? being of a quick tempo? is designed for dancing.
^ While there is life there is hope.
F. T.
A merchant who is too timid to take a risk will make
neither profit nor loss.
E. E, Nothing venture ?
nothing h
ave.
{>!“i>} juba*« --jLO
*• *4 •
F. T. Behold kings
y Cjyt oM*
crowns and those who wear them? and
behold who are occupying whose places ! { Regretting the
tenure of office by unfit substitutes and successors
Notes. (1) ^IT originally means the crown worn
by the kings of the Key^fi Dynasty. (2) There is a pun
on the word ^Lr which is both a plural of ^ key-
a member of the Key-^n Dynasty, and a plural of*^^ kee,
whicli means “who” .
<01-0* A)L> 1 ) F.r. Neighbourhood goes as far as
forty . houses ( /. e.^ He who lives even in the fortieth
house from yours is considered as your neighbour ).
- 107 -
CmL«L> 4) 1) T. As soon as you bow down ■>
they will put a load on your back. ( This indicates the
nature of those who presume on the humility of others?
which they use to serve their own ends }.
(t^***-} ^ Ui^til you put it on
the fire? ambergris will give no scent . [ This means that
until a person is tested » his qualities do not manifest
themselves ) .
c-f fA T. While there is breath? there
is life. Cf, ^ €t€.
[iS^) ^j\ji j) No pains? no gains.
T. Until you take pains ? you will not carry away the
treasure-trove .
2^ * 2^
i3>. OiAi U T. Since he
became a fox he has never been caught in such a hole.
( Said of a person who is in a bad fix ? such as he never
expected ).
•V') U T. As long as the
roots have water ? one may hope for fruit. (Zf C .—
3^ -O' 3^
The dusk of the night
is the collyrium of the bat’s eye.
2 ^ * 2 ^
^ F. T. The new should (always) replace the old.
e^U b y y ^ T. And now he asks? “ Was
F,€yli male or female ? ” { Question which was asked by a
stupid person after he had heard the whole love romance
of Leyli & M.ajnoon by the poet F^ezsimi }.
_ 3^2 <}■ 3^
(^3^) ^• The ( good ) hound
takes to playing while the hunt is on. ^ Said of some one
who allows himself to trifle while he is needed for se¬
rious work }.
- 108 -
jlay. JUjj Jjji AT F.T. A hound forced
to hunt against his will* will bring dead game.
^ 1 -J <xJb jUjA) F. T. Throwing lucky
dice makes every one a good player.
E. E. He plays well who wins.
Note, Sometimes the pvb. begins with ^
^\^\S » but onowadays is used mostly for the “men >
and not for the dice» used in backgammons.
O ^ 2SS
Unless you set out ( or tra¬
vel ) on the eve» you will not arrive at your destination
on the ( next ) day .
^ be¬
came a jackal i he has never been caught in such a hole
{1ft. an underground watercourse). C/. J.?
2^ * 2^
^ ji jt'V j^y (^1**“?’ u
T. By the time the fat man grows thin 9 the thin man
will have died.
. As long as peace can be
made> do not knock at the door of war.
Note. ^ji*j “ to knock at the door of
something” has come to mean “to seek or search for? or
betake oneself tO) something”,
2^ O 2^
J <)U "E. While the rational
man was seeking a bridge » the fool took to the water and
went on his way. ( To do a thing on the spur of the mo-
#
ment is often better than going about it through rational
or logical channels }.
y U F. T. Unless you worry about
others j you will not be worried about by any one.
^ o
( } OJ Ui jl -jS* U F. T. Why
risk one’s life if one can gain one’s end by money {lit. gold).^
- 109 -
• By the time the bald man
has considered his hair-dressingi the wedding will be over.
jyt jA (^ib) Oit ^MTl) ■i . Since the crow had
young ones j he has not been able to eat his fill of carrion.
O * sCs
j> P. Since I have
had children? 1 have given up childish ways.
2 ^ * 8 ^
fcA>A <C) (^ Let him become blind who
cannot bear to see ( others’ success ) . ( From the follow •
ing story } :
Two ravens happened to meet a tortoise with whom
they made friends. One day the tortoise asked his new
friends to lift him up in the air? so that he might get an
idea of what the higher regions looked like. shall be
willing to do SO ” 7 said the ravens > “ provided you keep
consistently silent throughout the flight ” . When the tor¬
toise agreed to this > they took a stick and told him to
hold it firmly in the middle by his teeth? while each one
of them would hold one end of the stick by its bill. This
agreed > all three friends flew into the air ? and passed on
successfully for a time.
All who saw the birds and the tortoise in the air ?
expressed their wonder at the trick ? which had enabled
the latter to fly ? but he paid no attention to them and
managed to keep his mouth closed. At length? when certain
children in a locality began to shout ? “Behold how nicely
the tortoise is being carried in the air” ? the silly animal?
whose patience had been exhausted by this time ? opened
his mouth to say ? “ Let him become blind who cannot
bear to see my success ” . Of course no sooner had he
opened his mouth than he Cell to the ground.
Note, The phrase ’ which means
“ in spite of the enemy ” ? is of frequent use ? and the
phrase 4,01 jto is now used to avert?
so to speak? the evil eye of one who is jealous of others’
success? while it has no regard to the unlucky fate
of the tortoise in the story ? which has been related
- 110 -
in the famous book of J Kalileh & Demneh.
^ 3 idAs long as £ools
. are still found in the world » why should the poor be
needing bread ? jj <1*1 1* etc,
JU } ^Jix) ojIm J-llc oiU ->l <r IT
T. Unless there is susceptibility ( tit, attraction ) on the
part of the beloved j the efforts of the lover are in vain.
C-ii^ jF. T. As soon as you say to some
one» “ I am your slave ” j he will put you on sale.
Notes. (1) The first hemistich to this is ^
J q. V. ( 2 ) CmS ^ is a contraction of
( they sell thee ) > which would destroy the
rythm . It is also the colloquial way of pronouncing
OJUmJ( 3) The meaning of this'pvb. is the same as
that given for II etc.
id^ 4U»iT. By the time the
calf has grown into a cow) the farmer has given up hope.
(Referring to the numerous sufferings of mothers in bring*
ing up their children } .
-a- 2^
^3 jyj id^—i c-*-0 jLo IT T. Unless the snake makes it¬
self straight) it will never get into the hole. Cf, ^ jl* etc,
E. E. (a) Honesty is the best policy. ( b ) Cheating play
never thrives.
( ) wtitl) 4s^) 3 vAJ^L) ^5^ id^ ^ Until
a man has spoken i his faults and virtues remain hidden.
2^ O 2^
P. T. So far as possible
jump up ) when this is no longer possible » come down.
(Practical lesson for making the best of our chances) .
Not e. <^j3 & 4^^^9 are imperatives of and
^respectively j and ) taken together > make a
compound word - <^3^j3 - which means “ gambol
-Ill-
or frolic *’ .
if h cjO iSjiji (jtOO U" As long as you
have some one who will bear your airs ? put on such airsi
if you have none ? stretch your legs ( /. e, lie down and
give up ) .
3 3^ ^ ^ ^• Where there is not a
fresh-cut stick > the ox and the ass will not obey.
It is the raised stick that makes the dog obey. Cf.
A rod for the fool j a nod for the wise.
NoSe. The P. phraseology given above seems to be
corruption by the vulgar of j
which is a regular hemistich. The word ^is too short
to render the rythm of the hemistich sound.
^Ij E. E. (a) There is no smoke
without fire. ( b ) Where there ore bees there is honey.
T, Unless there were something ever so small in iu people
would not Say things.
Mote, The word is too long to go with the
rythm of this hemistich.
ir T. Do not say a
word until you know it is exactly right.
3-^J I IT F. T, While there is respiration »
there is aspiration. Cf, etc,
C«w»t ^ ^It is allowable to give out ( part
of ) what luck brings in (/. e, when one is lucky and richr
he may be liberal ) . C/.
( iS^y> } ^ Jat? ^ ^ IT
T-, Unless the clouds weep the meadow will not smile i
unless the child cries it gets no milk.
AjT c-.Iv aib C-.I J Jl^i U . One should straighten a shoot
while it is green. {^Pointing out the importance of
«j lU
- 112 -
training received in childhood } .
P, P. Gambling losses are compensated
by more gambling.
Mote. I perfectly agree with Dehkhoda. in that this
is a most noxious saying > as it encourages the ruinous
habit of gambling.
2 ^ * 3 ^
^ As long as I exist > I will cling
to your coat-tails { lit. beard ) . (This is what a hanger-
on would say ) .
JLmI) <UC> S tjJ* jb Ui F. T. It remains to be seen
who will be chosen by the Friend ( God ) 5 and to
whom He will incline. (This is very much like the E.
phrase ‘‘The matter is on the knees of the gods} .
jC’ i-U> T. A very hot fever leads to quick
perspiration ( /. c, a very ardent love is apt to cool down
quickly and be turned to disaffection ) .
^ ^ axe? but goes
in search of the needle (/. He cares less for the essential
than for the non-essential ) .
4) ^Ir* <tlL) T. Such a one is like dried
cow-dung ? which has neither scent nor virtue (?. €. He is
good-for-nothing} .
Note. As a matter of fact dried cow-dung is used for
fuel? and hence the above remark is not strictly true.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
T. Xo try to acquire the acquired
is absurd.
Cm-I 1^ I 7 . Its seeds have been eaten up by
grasshoppers ( /. e. It is unobtainable or exceedingly rare).
T. To sow seeds in brackish-ground (^. 0 .
to waste one’s effort ) .
-lU-
jZm E. E, He that will steal an egg will
Steal an ox.
®SS"®tcaler will hecome a camel'Stealer. { Efotn the
Jollowing anecdote^:
A child once stole an egg and took it home to his
mother ? who admired his clever act and said , “ Well
done, my brave son ! When the boy attained his adult age
one day he stole a camel for which he was condemned to
imprisonment. Before going to prison he requested to be
allowed to meet his mother. This was granted , and the
young man j on meeting his mother ^ asked her to stretch
out her tongue for him to kiss it. But instead of kissing
it» the youth bit it off angrily) and said* ‘*The egg-stealer
will become a camel-stealer .
r. Does he lay double - yolked eggs?
\ Is he anything special ? )
Not*. A double - yolked egg is very rare, and hence
much esteemed.
^ break an addle egg in some
one s mouth (/. to inspire a vain hope in his mind by
a promise ) . ^
^ T, His eggs have no yolks (^e He is
a very deceitful dealer i he is an impostor ) .
r. The hen was not lay-
jng, but one day when it did, it laid the egg i„ the straw-
in. I bald of a person who does not do his duty , and if
occasionally he does , he does it in a wrong way ) .
• ■ ^ ^• Old men use prudence > vounc
men fight . j b
OkX-oLT^ ^ E T, The radish ranks itself among
oranges and lemons. Cf. eU
OJ?" J*' ^ P. T. The effect of
8
- 114 -
cducfltion on the introctablc is as water on a duck s ]>aGk
(lit, as walnuts on a dome ) .
Training is always
the same i but capacities differ.
Nole^ is the pi. of “ nature ” .
aJi JJld ^ J The fungus
which I meant for a relish proved fatal to me.
E. E, I have brought up a bird to pick out my own eyes.
{ Ad apt ed from the original pvh. He hath brought up a
bird lo pick out his own eyes ) .
Note. The first part of this pvb . literally means
“ I sowed cress seeds > intending to eat the cress with my
bread *’ . Note the quasi - rime between ( anything
eaten with bread ) and fatal*) also > a murderer.
E. Distinction without a difference
is absurd.
(ji ^IwX)^ jj j) ^J
t . Mercy to the sharp-toothed leopard is cruelty to the sheep.
E. He hurts the good who spares the bad.
^ < 3 -
CUi-* jA T. Fear is akin lo { lit. the brother
of ) death.
^ O
c-( <) ^jjy>jS <r <uip
See cSj-c* y etc.
^ <Sji ^ l\ T. Be it a fairy or a demon j
it scares the timid man.
OkX^ji r. He who fears is always safe.
C . the E. He that fights and runs away »
Will live to fight another day.
^ T. To break a habit makes one ill.
- 115 -
^ J y T. Wet and dry burn together ( /. e.
Good and bad suffer together ) .
4) ^y T, The leek resembles its seed
and little Hass an takes after his father.
Like father ) like son.
* 2 ^
6 vVi ^"^^y A chip of the old block.
T. The thirsty dreams of water. Cf,
pT etc. & etc.
£. E. (a) The cat dreams of mice, ( b ) The lover dreams
of his mistress.
3 ^ * ^8
JIpca w I O T. The thirsty person
cannot possibly forget water.
^ iS ^
^lo>’ wT T. Offering of water in a public bath ( /. e.
a worthless compliment ) .
2^8 O 2^8
‘AaU J OaT (JjUT F, T. If you say to a person > “ You
may have this * or “ Help yourself ” ? by way of com -
pliment i he may take it literally.
. ^ ^ * 2^8
fS" tijUr F. T . Less of your courtesy and
more of your purse.
F. Diminish your compliment and increase the sum.
2 > 2 ^
(A.) F. Keep company like
brothers ? and do business like strangers.
^ (A. ) T*. Things are recognized by their
opposites.
I . . 35 ? * jC 8
Praising one¬
self is ( like ) chewing cotton.
E. E. Self-praise is no recommendation.
yjj o,s0.> F. Too much praise is worse
-116
than abuse.
oW <-(r eSo w/■ ijiji JuClJ^5jU) F. r. When
the dish is broken and the food spilt i the beggars come
into their own. ( Lit, ) Let the bin ( Of tub ) be broken
and the yoghurt spilt* ( and you will see how ) the world
becomes as parasites would like it to be.
J ^i) E. E. (a) Curses
come home to roost, (b) Who throws mud on another soils
his own hand, (c) Spit not against heaven* Hwill fall back
in thy face.
t . Spittle thrown high up falls back to the thrower’s
beard ( or face ).
^ JT l\T, Azazil is a fallen angel
on account of his arrogance.
E. E. (a) Pride goes before a fall, (b) Pride breakfasted
with plenty* dined with pov^erty* and supped with infamy,
(c) Pride goeth before destruction ( Biblical ).
4Cr r. The morsel from a neighbour
has goose fat in it ( i. c. Other people’s properties seem
better than one’s own ). Cf. o-t jlc
To lean on water (i. e, to rely on things
which are not substantial i to have no support ).
\j oj^i. F. T. Because some one has
given him sour grapes , he revenges himself on a poor
( blind man. E. E. same as for ^ etc )
^ote. The mute o at the end of jof corresponds to
the definite article the , and causes to rime
with
. ^ 3 ^ 3^5
a:9i ^ jZb p j ^
acquires two pairs of trousers ( /'. e. gets rich ), he begi
ins
-in¬
to think of getting a new wife.
Oj^ - Jt^“ “Lazy bones? move int*"*
the shade”, • “The shade will come here of itself”.
Note. Th is short dialogue clearly shows how sluggards
think? the second part being what they would answer to
One who invites them to work.
sjg * sjg
To grease one’s body ( /. e. prepare
for some suffering or for a great expenditure ).
I-ri^ etc.
E. E. (a) He is itching for trouble i (b) he is
eager for the fray.
T. His body itches.
^ T. Being naked and playing with fire !
cf. -cU. <r \y etc.
Note. I Nowadays means only “fireworks”.
^ o ^
t E- T. The trouble-maker
had better be in the tomb.
l^Ji To go alone to the judge { i. e.
to have his ear in the absence of the other litigant party).
T. He who eats alone is akin to
the Devil ( lit. ig the Devil’s brother ). {^Showing Iranian
hospitality and charitable disposition }.
v5^ T, Singleness befits God ( /. e. Human
beings should be married ).
8^ SC2
^ j yb F. T. One always
wants one’s habitual clothing and food. ( Lit. ) The body
wants what it has been wearing ? and the lip what it has
been drinking.
8^ * 8^
jt jm ^ ^ jl" jlJ"
118
P. P. The wisest man is modesti the fruitful branch bends
toward the ground.
P, E. The most fruitful branch is nearest the ground.
ufy r. He who is wise is powerful.
E. E. Knowledge is power.
Note, The second hemistich to this is j
■^->1 An old man's heart becomes young through
knowledge.
{^5*^) til) jail ^^)
F. T. A rugged bone may be swallowed somehow or other)
but when it reaches the navel it will tear the belly.
( Caution against rashness by which one may commit any
gross act » though he may be unable to stand its evil
consequences },
^ o ^
T, The rich are a till ( or mo¬
ney-box ) for the poor.
E. E, The rich are trustees under God for the poor.
cOJ' ai«<r ^C) I fSl Same as
etc.
y ( OAU J cJj) f jJ) ^^ y
^ ^ rich and vicious man is a clod overlaid with
gold! a poor and pious man a beauty obscured by dust.
302-O 30?
JU) <i c-l ja*; J JU <5 c-1 Jjj ^^ ij)
■ riches are spiritual j not material) and maturity
a matter of intelligence > not of years .
30? O 20?
iSlj eJ) y F. T. Just give me ( what you can ) >
and I know myself how to get drunk. ( From the follow-
tng anecdote ] : —
A dissolute youth went to a tavern, and asked to be
served some wine against what money he had, which con¬
sisted only of a few pence. The tavern-keeper said, “You
can only have a small quantity of wine for your insigni¬
ficant sum > and what effect can it have on you ? ’’
Nevermind ” > said the youth i “ just give me what
you can) and I know how to get drunk”. (The idea is that
a rogue by nature may brawl and do wicked acts by drinking
any amount of wine ).
T. A beggar’s sack ( or bag ) { a mixture
of different thing5> a medley or hotchpotch ) .
S ^ 1^0 you know better than the
prophet? {^From the following anecdote ) : -
A man carried her decrepit old mother in a pannier
to a certain prophet) to whom the old woman desired to
pay a visit , The prophet advised the man in jest to have
her mother married. “ It is neither possible nor decent)”
said the man) “to have her married at this age”. Where¬
upon the old woman cried ) “ Do you know better than
the prophet ? ”
3 ^ - 0 -
( j 5 j2aS" 4) jI) tIhose who
recommend repentance—why do they seldom repent them¬
selves ?
E, E. (a) Do as the priest sayS) not as he does, (b) Practise
what you preach.
jLeJ F. T. The gambler repents only
when he has no money, Cf. the next pvb.
•C3' 2^
s.r f 4) J) E, E. You may end himi but you will
not mend him.
T. The ( only ) repentance of the wolf is death.
(tpw) J ^0 y F, T. Be clear of
conscience) and fear none.
E. E. (a) A clear conscience fears no accusation ( or laughs
at false accusations ). (b) Speak the tr«tb and shame the
Devil, cf, c—1 d)L aT 1^7 etc.
“120
< ^* *** ^ J ^You will
be asked what your virtues are> not who your father was.
^ ^
( 4 i <r* \j F, T, This is no
game to play in a house made of reeds.
E, E. (Same as for (.1, j 4ry etc. )
O The “inner man”
is being killed > while the “outer man” kills others with
envy.
c. E. He robs his belly to cover his back.
Note. The “ inner man ” means “ a man’s soul or
mind”, and jocularly “the stomach”, and “the outer man”
has come to mean a man’s external appearance , such as
clothes”. {See the Concise Oxford Dictionary).
2 ^ *
V * T. How can you know
the value of water—you who live by the Euphrates ?
E-. E. (a) We never know the worth of water until the
well runs dry. (b) Misfortunes tell us what fortune is.
CT. etc.
^ f>{) j ij> <ijT ^^ <ry
E. You who have glass on your roof, why do you throw
stones at other people’s roofs ?
E. E. They that live in glass houses should not throw
stones. Cl. <;U <S'\jj7
r . c> • ^ * O:
^ I? <ry T. You who cannot
see the lamp , what can you see by the ( light of the )
lamp ? .
‘ “ y°“ know the
lullaby, why can’t you get to sleep Cf.
etc. and etc. ^ . -r'
E, E. Physician, heal thyself.
Note. The pvb. also begins with f\ for <r aT
- 121 -
s u {<r) P, P. Have you died
that we should prepare your bier ? ( A facetious answer to
a complaint of neglect }.
One need not teach
the bereaved how to mourn .
Note. For “bereaved” which originally means
the P. has i. e. one whose mother is dead.
jji Jj>i J> >6 J >0 ji
P.T. You see the hair ) while I see the waves of the
hair » you see the eyebrow » but I the signs of the eye¬
brow. ( Referring to the meanings and expressions read in
the face of the beloved) as being worth more than mere*
inexpressive beauty ).
P. P. Shouldn’t you aid me as a friend >
My aid from Heaven God will send.
Note. The idiom as used in this pvb.
means “ to arrange some one’s affairs ” > but nowadays it
has a contrary implication) meaning to ruin some one »
do his job ) do away with him
^ o ^
P> P- “Amidst the
scuffle”) ( she says )) “pluck my eyebrows”, ( Used when
a person wants a trifling affair to be done by another who
has an important business on hand ).
I" 3 quarrel they do not dis¬
tribute Sweetmeat.
P. P. One can’t make war with rose water.
iSJ^ He can go into a lion’s mouth ( /*. e.
he is exceedingly brave ).
loj ^SJi> P. You cannot find it in
any druggist s drawer. { Said of a very rare object » or a
very eccentric idea ) .
- 122 -
To get into a ewer ( Of pitcher ) i f.
to creep into a hole ( from ^hame 7 fean etc. )
l> <>Ul? j)/ <<r jT •>• T. You
are empty of wisdom because you are full of food.
E. E. (a) Full paunches make empty pates, (b) Full bellies
make empty skulls.
Note. The P. ends with the phrase ^^* 5 ^ ^ up
to the nose.
T. Better o go barefoot
than in tight shoes. Cf. O'^ ^ ^ etc,
jrO F. T. Once the arrow
has left the bow> it will not return to the thumbstall.
E. E. (a) There is no overtaking the shot once fired, (b)
Words once spoken cannot be recalled, (c) A woid spoken is
an arrow let fly.
To shoot an arrow in the dark ( /. e.
to make a guess wide of the mark ).
<^^ 3 ^ uSi-J F. (a) He missed the aim (or the point),
(b) He failed.
F. His arrow hit a stone.
T. He shoots the arrow and
hides the bow. {^Said of one who tries to conceal the traces
of an act).
c.-»( ^\Sj^ F. F. The awl is sharp at the
head. (Pvb. attributing causes to those at the head of
affairs }.
Kt
^ 3 ^ L5^? T. To strike one’s own foot with an axe
( to be self-destructive ).
^3^ ^** 5 ^ E, 1 . To strike at one’s own foundation
( to be self-destructive ).
- 123 -
Notc. is an adze or chip-axe> and makes a rime
with AJUj “root”.
4sl^ T. An adze facing itself. (Said
of a one-sided or selfish person }.
Note. This proverbial phrase may he read ^-1*)
( f, without the €ZaJah ) » which would then make it
an adverbial phrase meaning ‘*with the adze toward one}
self” » i, e. selfishly. Ci. the E. pvb. All men row galley
way) /. c, every one draweth toward himself.
U wwT <r4) hittajo
F. T. Better a Sword in an Ethiopian’s hand than knowledge
possessed by an ignoble person.
F. E. Put not a naked sword in a madman’s hand.
T. A curved sword must have a curved
scabbard.
E. E. Desperate diseases must have desperate cures ,
* 8 ^
AS' l^T Where there is water ablution
with earth or sand is void ( /. e. When one has the origi¬
nal* why use the substitute ? ).
T, One should not expect fruit
from a willow-tree. Ci. jii etc.
B. a) Figs do not grow on thistles, b) You can’t get
blood out of a stone.
oOwiy E. E. Virtue is its own reward,
i . The reward for a good act goes to the doer’s house.
\ Ip- F, T. Ripe wisdom saves one
from snares.
Not 6 , means also *‘mellow *’» and elp*
literally means “ fallen into a pit ” .
*-^******^ Ip* F' T. Sometimes one has to say
■^7^ “We serve Thee”) and sometimes ui*^‘tWe seek help
from Thee ”) as the case may be.
Notes. (1) In the first Surah (/. e. chapter) of the
Koran there is a verso which reads JfUKuJ '^JUM '.ilO!
“ We serve Thee > and we seek help from Thee ”
( addressing God in prayer ) . The letter ^ at the end of
means in Arabic “ thee ” , but this is read so closely
with the following words Oju and as to make it
seem that these words are (2) This pvb.)
which , though based on extracts from the Koran , seems
to be vulgar, is used to show that everything is good in
its own place) or to indicate the necessity of changing one’s
acts and words as dictated by the “spur of the moment”.
Ip- p. T. There is no trace of the baby save
the wetting of its bed. (Cited in cases when one finds
that something is missing in the very place it should have
een while it has left certain traces } .
(qa\ b" r After an attack by
highwaymen ) a road is safe for forty days.
. o ^
T. Spying is ( like ) pandering.
Notes. (1) is a synonym of ,^rb- “ a pimp
Or panderer . (2) If the attribute here given to spies seems
to be exaggerated , we might extend the E rendering and
- 126 -
make it readi “Spying is pandering to others’ evil designs”.
CxmI F. T. It is only a good fit that
looks comely. ( Lit, ) Clothes to one’s measure are good.
to F. T, O dear » you took the
words out of my mouth. { You are complaining against me
while it is I who should be complaining against you ).
F. T. He will not give up his ghost to
the Angel of Death. (Referring to a very stingy person }.
Note, Azfsk-il , the Arabic name for the
Angel of Death) seems to be of Hebrew origin? but iS not
used by the Jews.
O *
^ ^ i-uU T. The soul must leave
one ? no matter if it be through one’s throat or side
( i. €. One must die? it doesn’t matter how ? )
oS^ F. T. Give your slave
bread and he will offer you his head.
To die hard ( as a Kurd ).
Note, The Kurds are supposed to be tenacious of life.
^ F. T, Until one is in the agony of death?
one’s .loul remains in one’s body ( /. e. One should not
despair of life without good reason? or go to meet.death?
prematurely Cf, c —a I' etc.),
^ ^ ^ o ^
J>Uj T, To rinse the prayer carpet ( i, e. to
act hypocritically or prudishly) .
:>» jJo)
. When an ignorant person is confuted by his opponent
in argumentation, he betakes himself to hostile measures.
■*> T. There is no room for a millet.
P-- P-. There’s not room to swing a cat.
- 127 -
c-J There is no room to throw a
needle.
E, E. {Same as for the preceding ).
^ a) We missed you. b) We thought
of you.
T. Your place ( or seat ) was empty.
Note, Sometimes the above phrase is replaced by
F, Be a rose
among roses and a thorn among thorns.
C-^ 05^ >• iS^ He who has two wives will
have to live in the mosque ( /. e, will have to beg ).
Note, Homeless beggars are allowed to live in mosques.
One cannot replace bread by
stone { i. e, one must have bread i there is no substitute).
jSt ^
oi^ F. Sit in a place from which they
will not turn you out.
entail ^ AT cij 4 ^^ F, E, (a) He went to Davy
Jones’s locker, (b) He’ll come again* as Goodyer’s pigs did.
T. He went where the Arab threw his reed.
<r^.b- r. Where the sunlight does
not enter* the doctor does.
c-t Jbt c-»l sjT <r^’b. {Same as etc,)
^ s> ^
^ ^ ^F. jf. Where
the camel is worth one farthing* the ass is worth nothing.
Note, or is a money of account worth half
a dinar,
2^ {S'
•»j*» <r Ail :»t Aji^j w-uc {Same as
- 7 *^ etc, )
— 128 -
c-t c-iy <»rWhere meat is lack¬
ing 7 beet is a champion ( /. gains importance ).
E. E. (a) He is a Triton among the minnows, (b) In the
land of the blind the one-eyed are kings ( Scottish } .
Note, Th is pvb. is sometimes modified so as to rep¬
lace by 6 ^^ “ fruit ” > and for oLT
“ the king of ( citrous ) fruits ” ,
wtUk) ^T, Where you have eaten
salt 7 do not break the salt-cellar ( /. e. Do not be un¬
grateful to the salt eaten with another). See Note under
cT ! etc.
yf ^-) J crj:^ <r r. He wiii
not sleep in a place which can get wet underneath ( i. e.
He cannot be deceived; also> he need not be looked after).
^ -ts ^
jj^ osAji IT
P. T. We know not the
value of friends unless we part with them ; the man with
a broken bone knows the value of mummy.
E. E, ( Same as for ^^9 etc. )
Note, ^'U>o was a kind of mineral asphalt formerly
used as a panacea^ and especially for healing broken bones.
E. 7 . The man who overcharges
deserves to have no buyers.
oUKa a«Li jki jf 'a. r TK 1 ^
• , . ^ • The reward of an evil act
is only evil. Cl, oLiiC. 31
I . .. . ^ 3^^
E T *t. ■ 1 ^
-/-V o J' ^ ^ . He IS Sick for such
and such a thing.
(} ^ 7^\^7 ^ means “his liver is spotted
.1 ecayed) for such and such a thing.
^ <5“
will L k ■; 0 >> P. P. Many a . heart
will be broken by the time a spn becomes likes his
- 129 -
father. Cf. ^ etc.
j*^ ^ j*" T. At war while ploughing >
at peace while reaping.
To quake at work and sweat at meals.
C-|( ji <i J^t F. T, Better to fight it out at
once {or at the beginning) than have to make a late peace.
F. E. (a) A word before is worth two after, (b) Better an
ounce of discretion than a pound of cure. Cf, A stitch in
time saves nine.
S J ^ uC;>- F, T. Can one attack an
alligator and stay in the river ? ( Lit. ) Fighting with an
alligator and staying in the sea ?
Cmwi I ^ T. War appears easy to on-lookers.
O O F. r. It is with a sword that
one makes war » and with money that one does business.
Cr. c^\ jdii <iU-*
La u^;p- T. No need of a peacemaker
( lit. mediator) in a sham fight.
2 ^ * 2^
fcAiwb bUA However
powerful a warrior may be? he cannot do without a stratagem-
^ o ^
^ The ( only ) answer to fools is
silence.
2^8 iJ’ 2^
T. Force is the (only) answer to force.
2^8 * 2^8
F. T. The answer to “ bah *’ is “ boo ”
( Harshness should be answered by harshness ) .
o sQg
"->■ JS. Oji
as jPti ij ^ etc.
ame
9
- 130 -
jkjCiXj The generous {or brave)
youth is he who doesn’t speak but acts.
^ 9 -S c.-' P. T. This is youth » hence all
airs and graces.
! oMS^ j'^ oT. The
chicken hatched in the autumn tries to deceive the one
hatched in the spring ! (Said of a stripling trying to deceive
a person older and more experienced than himself ) .
P^ote. jmt oMf and j\ oMf* are
both common idioms meaning “ to defraud some one”.
JOvUJ^ ^' Chickens should be counted in
autumn.
£. P. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
Note. For they say sometimes .,j»^
the latter meaning “ at the end of autumn” .
^ o ^
T, Chickens do not always remain
in the coop ( DC under the basket ) , (This means that
children will not always remain ignorant (especially of sex
matters ) and innocent.
P. He cannot divide the barley
allotted for two asses. (Referring to an incapable and inef¬
ficient person ) .
^“*^0*^ T, True generosity is to give unasked.
o sjg
( ^ T. A harsh teacher is better
than a tender father. A teacher’s oppression is better
than a father’s kindness ) .
Note. nowadays means ‘‘ professor ” ? where
‘Meacher ” is
Lc.) I . (One) who shows wheat and sells barley
( C double-dealing or a double-dealer) .
P. P. ( One ) who cries wine and sells vinegar.
- 131 -
j3'j j* yj P, T. Better an ounce of
gold than a hundred pounds of force.
Nole. A variant form of this hemistich substitutes
“ fifty ” for “ seventy ” .
^ iS.^ An ounce of luck is better
than a ton of virtue ( or good qualifications ) .
Note, means barley i and > which literally
means ‘an ass load’? is now equivalent to 300 kilogrammes.
C-**^ OiAfc)U T, Who seeks will find.
( (jlsw ^ P- T. As in the
world there are eyes and eyebrows > also ) pencilling and
beauty - spots i so everything is good in its own place (or
season ) .
C-l •>* ^ ^ri e s e t c,
C He who has seen the
world ( /. travelled in it ) tells many lies.
P, P, (a) Travellers tell fine tales, (b) Old men and tra¬
vellers may lie by authority. ( c ) They who come from
afar have leave to lie.
Note, The phrase “ travellers’ tale ” is very much
used in £.
c.-( :»< <> Same as etc.
C jLmA 4 ^jH ji ^A man with his
wits about him finds room in the world.
‘^■>1— viW ) C-.1 ^ I* Acto j\ T. Ig -
norance of one’s own faults is the worst fault of all.
yM Even hell is not so hot as this
(/. You are drawing the long bow ) .
- 132 -
T. His pocket is cleaner than a
Moll^h'^s skirt ( i. it is empty ) .
Notes. (1) VU (Mollah) is a person versed in theology
and Sacred law. (2) By ^‘clean skirt** is meant chastity) and
hence the compound adjective “chaste”. (3) A vari-
• ant form of this proverbial expression is hJT :;!
C—/. e. His pocket is cleaner than a looking-
glass used by brides.
.^1) \j T. His pocket is covered by
spider’s web { /. e. it has not been used for having been
empty ) . Cf, the preceding item.
Ij F, T. I will ex¬
cuse you from Being a jockey if you can only hold on to
the pommel. Said to one who» though unworthy of a
small position) claims a higher one } .
Within one’s own four walls one’s
own free will ( /, c, A man is master in his own house) .
t UjmT F, T. The pound of an acquaintance
is only 13 ounces { /, The shopman who knows you gives
you underweight) .
Notes, (1) which literally means one-fourth
(of a man)'*'* y is an obsolete weight equivalent to 7 50
grammes* and jrj- which was one-tenth of a > is now
7 5 grammes. ( 2 ) Some people make this pvb. read
C-I djU UiT ciJC-
* 25 ^ * ^
jT 4sAr f^jT oji^ Same as etc.
t ^T****^ F, T, Nothing but
a pack-saddle for a dull horse.
Note. nowadays is used for persons in the sense
of “stupid” .
F. The knife does not cut its own
handle. Cf, \j < 1 SC^ <*C^
F. E. There is honour among thieves.
Note, { 1 ) Some people use this pvb. to mean also
“The shoemaker’s wife goes the worst shod”. (2) is
sometimes replaced by
- 134 -
jS" 4i«ia To fold in a knife ( i. e.
from cold ) .
» is.
to. crouch
y t ejT;*! olf F. T. It is the mountain that furnishes
the well with water. {This stresses the importance of rain
which falls first on the mountain ] .
{' The well-digger
has no rest from digging.
Note, An E. parallel to the’ above would be “ The
porter has no rest from his loads ” .
^ T. The well-digger is ( already ) at the
bottom of the well ( /. The trap-layer is caught in his
own trap). Cf, the next pvb. and <r ^ a. etc.
2 ^ < 3 * ^
^g~S' Oiji- J^l ^ ^Co eb- f*. T. Do not dig a pit
for another? lest you fall into it first..
Note, This may well be said to be a vulgar pvl>, ?
as the rime and the grammatical construction are both
unsound.
owUO See Note under b Jjl etc.
A>ij 1) .jvU yT 4r T. If the well hus
no water of itself? it is no use to pour water into it. {Re¬
ferring to a person who is void of natural talent » or who
cannot use his own intelligence } . Cf. cjI etc.
^:>LLuJ 7. Not to know one’s left hand from
one s right. { Referring to one who has not reached the
age of puberty or discrimination ) .
4si:iy(^ <r j j f,jT \j^ F.T. Why
sleep under a crumbling wall and have disturbed dreams ?
Note. It would even be better to say “ disturbed
sleep > because under the circumstances it is hard to get
to sleep.
- 135 -
T. Why should men consider each other under obligation ?
when they are all in need of one another ?
? ^Why did you not become an artillery¬
man ? ( Said in irony to a person who is alarmed by the
slightest noise } .
j> T. Why should the wise
man do that which he will rue ?
Note. The first hemistich to this is c^J j'
^\‘Ji j e. Zoieikha - Potiphar’s wife- died
of grief when Joseph was imprisoned ( > the imprisonment
having been arranged by herself ) .
* 3 ^
F. T. Keep the lamp for dark hours.
E. E. Put by something for a rainy day.
Note. The first hemistich to this is >*-
j)jU j! / e. Do not annoy the doctor (who has treated
you ) after you are recovered. This is the way the vulgar
have it i but Sa’di has for the second hemistich <r
^ c)iy /. e. because illness may come again.
light to a lamp j but too much oil extinguisher it. Cf.
etc.
E. E, A little wind kindles i much puts out the fire.
^L) E. The lamp does not give light
to its own leg. <i—Ci etc.
E. Zi. The shoemaker’s wife goes the worst shod. Also) the
nearer to church t the farther from grace.
^ ^
liJj ,^j> E. A lamp held behind one gives
no light (/. e. Good deeds done by a man before his death
are better than prayers for him after his death ) .
C w->l.sdT The lamp will not
show light in the sun. ( More freely ) A rushlight will
“ 136 -
not show in presence of the sun.
1 ^ c«m( ^* The lamp has gone out
and the mill is still turning. { Quoted in cases when things
have their circulation in the absence of a roanaser 1
.... . ^
lamp of falsehood gives no
light.
Note. Sa^di has versified this thought as follows : -
aiu u juu <r ij^
He who has a false tongue J The lamp of his heart
has no light.
-0-1 The watchman’s sleep is the
thief’s lantern.
Note. is the modern word for “policeman ” .
[j T. The lamp of the oppressor will
not hum till dawn. Cf. the next pvb.
T. No one’s lamp hums
U\\ dawn ( /. No man’s happiness will he permanent or
JS ever completed ) .
^ '{J
( wUT ^ Ur F. r. There can be no
compaiuon between the extinguished lamp and the (glo-
nous ) candle of the sun.
T, The lamp of indigence gives no light.
-O 3^
cr^.j MS' ^ I y . ..I . ^ ,
F. T. Who tries to extinguish God’s fi,
his own hand. Cf. jliS' lai
F. E. It is no use striving against Fate.
a lamp that lightens my night than a candjf ;Jich burns
my clothes. Cf, ojy*-etc, ourns
Note. The candle gave more light than the primi-
p) hums
- 137 -
tive lamps.
SS* -H- ^8
{ ^1} ^IS*OsSjl aJLJ- jI <5" My.
. The lamp which gives light to the houses should it fall
on one’s garments} will act as an enemy.
2^8 -a-
E. E. Charity begins at
home. Ct, Jjl etc.
The lamp that is allowable to one’s home is not al¬
lowed for use in the mosque.
T. A glib tongue is next to sorcery.
_ ^ ^ 2^ ■{5‘ 2^
^* 4 ^ ^T. Fat cannot be extracted from
a stone.
One can’t get blood out of a stone
‘^y‘ T. He slumbers better than his spiri-
tual guide. *
I^ote. here translated “spiritual guide”, is ei-
lu ® certain order of dervishes, or that of
the uTis or Mystics , who usually seem to be sleepy in
their contemplation or ecstasied state , but who are also in
the habit of smoking opium, which causes them to doze.
^ o ^
T. To in^ikp / J
to importune , harass , or worry some one )
‘^1’^ ^ ^ has been
spoiled by too much kindness is worse than an heir ( /. e.
niay in the end claim more than one’s heir ) . Cf. the E.
Give him an inch and he will take an ell.
Note, < 2 ^ is food given to hunting animals , but
means also a whet , or a little food as a taste. Hence
One who has been spoiled by receiving such
food more than once.
^ To divine with open eyes ( /. e (o say
what everyone knows or foretell what everyone else can
- 138 -
foretell ) . ^ ^ ,
Note, Most people say
divine with closed eyes.
0 ,> rtr-^ To look at the instep of one’s foot
y' w If J* V y \
{ i. s. to have a feeling of shame or modesty ) .
T. Great men’s
Great men look so proudly on their
do not often recognize them ) .
eyes are narrow
inferiors that they
-■li
Jlxdf ji The enemy only sees your faults.
T. His eyes pick cherries (i.
do not see properly enough to distinguish one thing from
another ) .
Note. jUKijH J is black cherry and is ( white )
cherry ^ and hence perhaps the idea that “his eyes cannot
distinguish one variety from the other ” ,
W.-1 ojLSi oLi ,$ji P. P. He has seen a ray of light
( P He has scented or suspected signs of wealth some -
where i also 7 he has been promised a share of such wealth).
h 'i'. Look into his eyes and read
his heart. (The eyes often betray one’s thoughts) .
^ • May the Devil’s eyes become blind !
(Used in the sense of “ Touch wood ” to avert evil eye) .
ji\ <r T, His eyes can do a
thousand things of which his eyebrows know nothing (i.
He knows how to keep things secret ) .
( 9 ^^ P- T. To show some one a ray of
light ( /, e. to inveigle or allure some one ) . Cf.
? ^ (>s^ P- P- Did I have evil eyes ? (Said by one
- 139 -
who » as soon as he meets a person i finds him on the
point of leaving. Hence the phrase means? “ Why do you
want to leave on my arrival ? I have no evil eye to hurt
you thereby ” } .
Jijj VU J Same as J jijn etc.
3 ^ < 3 - ^
I F. T. A true spring is that which
gives j)ut water of itself. Cf. 0 ^ etc. &
jjlx ^1 aT etc.
carry a spring to the sea.
E. E. ( Same as foT ^^
3 ^ -a- 3^
JX; T. To plaster the sun’s fount of
light by mud ( /. e. to try to hide the truth ) . Cf.
Jti i^UiT etc.
3^ o 3^
Aji ^lau> j&.Jb Oj^ Aji cjtgJ *Ais>- T. When
the sun s fount of light is obscured > the bat becomes a
tumbler in the arena.
E, E. When the cat is away > the mice will play.
.S T. The beetroot does
not become meat » nor does an enemy turn a friend.
J jp- \j jJik^ T. The beetroot
thinks itself a fruit. Cf. jU etc.
F. E. Every Sprat nowadays calls itself a herring.
3 ^? < 3 * 2 ^
E. E. He is at the end of his tether.
His bag ( Of satchel ) has become empty.
^ under
Cj^ etc.
JiS^ T. Hear now a few words from
the bride s mother. This is a contemptuous way of draw“
ing the attention of a crowd to the unwelcome remarks
- 140 -
of a person! and amounts to “It is now his ( Of her) turn
to make remarks }.
‘i-Vd ^ c-turuf
^, * . Such are the ways of this rough world : it puts you
on the Saddle one dayi and puts the saddle on you the next
day. (Showing the vicissitudes of times) .
JS juT f
(J-> jl ^ P. T, Where there
is water! ablution with earth {or sand) is out. of question)
when day comes the lamp should be taken away,
*^1 etc,
^harp is in tune it will not receive chafing
by the musician’s hand.
Notes. The word which has come to mean
“ ( a slight punishment by way of ) reproof ” i literally
means “ rubbing the ears ” . And since the peg of a mu¬
sical instrument resembles an ear , for which reason it is
called > the poet has actually used a delicate pun.
wtiS" I
( ci-u- ) »Jlp. J pf. When the pure
soul IS about to depart , what matters if one dies on a
throne or on the ground ?
8 ^ ^8
J OwU I T. The stick ( /. e. the teacher’s rod )
comes from Paradise.
P. P, Spare the rod and spoil the child.
• <r J&> jr ( h ) ^ F. T. The
teachers rod is a flower ( /'. f. a blessing)', which must be
given to any one who does not wish to
P. P. { SaT/?e us foT the precedttig )
- • ^ 5 ^
o cT A C-JU T. It is
easy to give the stick to the bear , but difficult’ to get it
remain a fool.
- 141 -
back. ( The stick allades to a pretext which must not be
given to a rough or stupid fellow ) .
ijU (Jj (5- F. T. The beating
K rod ) of God is noiseless; he who receives it will
find no remedy for the pain.
E. E. Though the mills of God grind slowly , yet they
grind exceedingly small.
.>( ( Same as oJuT Jt )
. tSt * 8S8 • . .
"E. It is the asses and cows that need
to be beaten by a stick {i.e. Men should be ashamed to
commit an act which is punishable by beating )
tS «■
JJ &:>&<> J‘ AS-T. When you take the
Stick in your hand i th^ guilty cat runs away. Cf, ^-5" l^T
^ etc. Sc t I etc,
E. E. When the noose is prepared , the thief takes warnine
For o Ij ®
T - O
® *" pickle for him.
^ • His stick is in water,
-O' sS?
j(.>u
{See under etc,)
The treacherous shepherd is a wolf.
• T, ( Same as etc )
^ o sSs ** *
<r jr j <s.^T c-J oJLj-a ^
rr^wh
• . When you have no income . be cautious in spending;
for . as the sailors’ song goes , “ If no rain falls on the
mountains , the Tigris will dry up in a year. ”
E. ( a ) Make both ends meet.
(b) One is never rich until he commences .
To keep ahead of his expenses. C/. (jii.jtf'.-T ,> etc
- 142 -
jyj 4> JUil) 0^1^ \j oJuiUbj jja JA
T. When the ant has fallen into the ant - hill > he who
comes to its rescue must use tact 5 not violence. (Referring
to delicate affairs which need to be handled by tact and
prudence » rather than by violence and rough treatment) .
^ o ^
‘ When you cannot bite a
hand) kiss it.
E. E. What cannot be cured must be endured.
Note, jjbi is a contraction of but some manu¬
scripts have replaced this word by hA>Ll>
(^j.5^) T. When happiness dwin¬
dles) the soul flags.
J^j ^shall think about to¬
morrow when it comes.
E, E. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,
o-*Ci wSi-, *( T. If you are contented»
you will find stone and silver to be one.
<Juji uP <1 Jjf / jjS 4j jPj^
P. T. Cherish the cat and it will snatch the pigeon, fatten
the wolf and it will devour Joseph.
E. E, If you Save a rogue from the gallowS) he will rob
you that same night.
Note, The second hemistich alludes to the tradition
that Joseph’s brothers told Jacob that Joseph had. been
devoured by a wolf.
ji E. T, Strike the ball where
( or when ) you have a wide field.
E. E. {Sa/ne as for w-1 ^ etc,)
<s ^
T, When you have eaten
your fill of fruit ) don’t break the branch. ^
tiU; etc. and etc.
- 143 -
L) J( c-O) J> (.&» T. When you men¬
tion the name of a dog» you should procure a stick,
c. H. Talk of the devil and he will appear.
(<.U ol- F. T. When evil
comeS) fear the worse.
jij£> mJja 4ST jS jl cJj J
F. T. You cannot be possessed of a creed until you are re-
lieved of greed.
^iaiU} Since you are
now oldj Hafez) you should leave the tavern. (Cited when¬
ever an old man does youthful acts) .
2^8 * O
(jLW) ^j:> j) ^js>^
{Same as ^yly Ir etc )
2SS O 2^
F, T, When you cannot cure some one’s disease) don’t he
so oppressive as to aggravate it. Cf. J^\ etc.
3^ 2^
VIS" tAiSdl OS^ When thie ves quarrel
with one another) stolen goods are discovered.
c-A --<s^J oJT
i . If a cord is torn it can he joined at the end , hut be¬
hold there is a knot in the middle.
F, a) A broken friendship may he soldered ? hut will
never he sound, h) Though the sore be healed* yet a scar
may remain.
2^ * 2^
^ 03^ "F . What difference
is there between sweet and hitter > once a thing has been
Swallowed ?
F^ote. For “sweet and hitter” the P. has “sweetmeat
and poison”.
s& •»
0.9‘>^ OS^ F T. If you
- 144 -
cannot swim* keep away from the Oxus.
F. T. Where love enters? the master and the slave are alike
( or there is no question of master and slave ).
bAiii ObtMtfhAx ^ ^' ^^hen a man rs bi¬
ased? he sees no virtue.
(tSy>*} 4Jbl JO ( Liid F, T. When Fate approa¬
ches? the physician is helpless. ( Litt, ) When Fate com^s ?
the plysician becomes stupid.
■>' > Ji- ‘"J F. T, When the new
year comes? I regret the departure of the preceding year.
(Each year seems to be worse than the preceding year}.
Notes. 1) 3 synonym of
“to regret” » but *• to express one’s regret by
saying? “What a pity ! alas ! etc.”. (2) Most people only
Say Jl.-
0)1) j .ilidojJTj jMt 1)
f . When you have to deal with a child? you have to use
childish language { /. €. Speak to a child according to his
understanding ). 3 ^ -O* sjt
C—'f O*^ T. When the hun¬
dred comes we are sure we have the ninety. ( This means
(1) that the whole includes its parts? and (2) that when
we have the essential? we don’t need to care for trifles}.
jC J <So
o! <tr j\ \j T, When the rose is
gone and tire garden is perished ? in what shall we seek
. the scent of the rose .^“in the rose-water.
Note. The first hemistich is usually changed to
S"*yoS^ The unclean becomes fouler
by getting wet. C>. <;LCiiA ciC- etc.
Notes, (1) Jdy “unclean” as used here is meant
* 145 -
“ccremonially unclean according to the Islamic rites (2)
What gives a proverbial beauty to the above is the use of
the pun on the word J ‘‘wet” which is also the P. suffix
for the comparative degree.
{ J c-f J«-. Jg JA( j[j T. When the
party with whom one has to deal is amenable, the affair
is easy.
jjT F.T. When the ser-
pent’s time comes> it approaches wayfarers ( it goes
to meet death ).
I P T. It remains to be seen
whether the soup is worthy of its tureen. ( Said when it
IS doubtful whether a person deserves the honours expec-
ted by him ). Cf, etc.
3 ^
^ . Dig a well where you expect to produce wateri bleed
a vein which will give out blood. Cf, the E You can’t
get blood out of a stone.
<*" 2->6 j( <s. F. T. One
needs not fear the waves if Noah is the ship’s captain.
^ ^ Piping for the deaf
and dancing for the blind are useless efforts.
Note, The E. proverbial expressions “To play a lyre
to an ass ” and “ the sound of a flute to a deaf man ”
should be adapted into an equivalent for the P.
, .a 2 ^ < 1 ^ 2 ^
0V*y? ^ As well beat a log as a thick-
skinned man. ( hit,) Whether you beat me or the leathern
bag ( it is all the same ). Cf. the next pvb,
4^ F. T. Whether you speak to
me, or to the door, or to the ass ( , it is all the same ).
i You cite this when some one turns a deaf ear to your
10
- 146 -
remarksj or is too stupid to understand* or respond to them).
Ap>’ (j) It is six of one and half a dozen
of the other. J ^
l^otc is the Arabic » and is the Persian
* «
word for Friday.
h T. There is no need
of hearing an explanation^ on what is self-evident ( or
visible). Cf, 0-1 ^
§ ^^ ^' Why > my ass has not stuck
in the mud ( i, I am not in such a bad fix as to pre¬
pare myself for such a rough task* or to stand the evil
consequences thereof ) .
8^ {J- 8^
J.Sj^ yUiA C-< ui> <r
F. T. How nice it is to sell syrup ! For one can drink it
himself if it remains unsold .
Ji <tr F. T. How pleasant it
is wlien a single nod ( or wink ) serves two purposes !
Cf, <iXi I etc,
E. E. To kill two birds with one stone (is a great success).
Note. The second hemistich to this is
going to Shfih-Abdol-Azhn ( a village south of Teh*
ran ) * where one not only performs his pilgrimage > but
meets his sweetheart as well.
jto ^ <?
bL^ <r T\ T. How sweet it is
when kindness is mutual* and how troublesome when it is
one-sided !
E. E. (a) Love on one side only means misery on both sides,
(b) Courtesy on one side can never last long.
^ote. is a provincialism for J^-l) “It is” or It
may be”.
- 147 -
wW I y^S l^ ^ ( i-w l^>
T-. There is no happiness in the house ( or family )
when the hen crows like a cock { /. e, where the house¬
wife is quarrelsome ).
Note. The other meanings of jro- are “welfare” and
“blessing”.
2^ O 8^
? h pijj jjU jjTMh<f F. T. One who is Lorn
blind knows not the value of the eye sight.
O-y-U <0 <r4> ^. T. No twos but threes.
Third time never like the rest.
<U9v mT :>l;
7 . What use is there in water coming back to the river
after the fish is dead? Cf. j\ ju. etc.
E. E. a) After death the doctor, b) Shutting the stable
door after the steed is stolen ( or after the horse has fled).
^ o O
! oiU ..Aoi <r As- F. T.
I should hardly
call it a jest r if it were not half in earnest. (Said in case
when a joke is carried too far ) .
_ 8^ O 2^?
AT J\^ Aa- F, r. The mourning is
SO sorrowful that it brings even the undertaker to tears.
No/a. ^ (Of vulgarly means literally
one who washes the dead.
Kt
^ As. £. £. It is six of one and half
a dozen of the other. C/. jjCS jfjjjl
,, , is a masculine proper name; and
aj^ is an honorific title for a man of distinction > though
it has come to mean also a eunuch. In any case the
original meaning of the pvb. is that it makes no difference
whether you call a man Khajeh ~Ali or Alt - Kha\eh.
• iXmVJ 4^ P.T. . Call her not a mother
who is not kinder ( to the child ) than the nurse.
Note, This is not so common as the proverbial
- 148 -
escpression ^ the equivalent of which is
“ More Catholic than the Pope ” .
4^ Cal *
who is inferior to a woman. ( Said of cowardly or effe -
minate men } .
* $
Jl JL> <r^CA a> [Saf?ie as <r^^Cx> a>)
* aS*
OJb <p- ^ ^ 4^ F. T. A single man who can
fight well is worth a whole field full of soldiers.
8^8 <!■ aC?
4i) oJU F. Eat a part » give a part »
and leave a part (of what you have ) .
3^ o aS?
JML^} aT <S}^ under etc.
8^ * 3^
conceal
from man what is not hidden to God ? C Often used as an
introduction to a confession } .
^ <s ^
6jtjU*jy) <L^J ©^U F, What is torn will not allow
of being patched up .
Note. This is rather humorous and cannot be genera¬
lized for all cases. It is also based on the rime between ojw
and *) ” a colloquialism for ji
^jljo 4jlf' 45o F. E. Exchange is no robbery,
F. T. So long as replacement is possible j there is no
ground for complaining. ^
Note. The pvb. also substitutes 4;j;i I for 40jj^
o ^
(ci-*,-) crti j?’’ *"
saying a thing when you have not been asked to say it.
E. E. Speak when you are spoken to.
P. T. Beauties have no
need of tirewomen,
P. E. (a) Fair f aces need no paint. (b) Beauty unadorned
is adorned the most.
2^ -O
'P' is dead and the camel is relieved.
Note, or pilgrim ( to Mecca ) i who
often used a camel for the pilgrimage. Hence the death
of a meant the liberty of the creature ? and the pvb.
may be extended to masters and servants ? or the like.
2 ^ <}• 2 ^
P. T. Be it known to you ? since you are plundering all »
That there’s some money under the saddle (in the hall).
[Pfom the following anecdote ^ :
A number of thieves raided a certain house one
night. The owner of the house ? seeing that they were
carrying away everything) pointed to a pack-saddle under
which he had hidden some money? and said to them hopeless-
ly » “ Now that you are determined to plunder the whole
house) I must tell you that there is also a hundred totJiAUS
under the pack-saddle ” .
Cf, the E, In for a penny > in for a pound.
^ U ^^ b" ^ AT VU»-
P. T. Indeed they have agreed with each other in making
away with me. ( Prom the following anecdote } ;
A certain person fell ill after he had eaten melons
and honey together > which ? according to popular belief >
make the eater sick. One of his friends ) who went to visit
him ) Said ? “We told you that melons and honey do not
- 150 -
agree with you . “ Indeed ” j said the sick man ? “they
have agreed with cack other in making away with me ” .
^turn to mew.
{ From the following anecdote'} : -
A hungry cat went to a table at which a man was
eating i and began to mew in search of food. For every
morsel that he ate > the man served another to the cat.
But the greedy animal disposed of its morsel quicklyj and
mewed again > while the man was still chewing his morsel.
When this was repeated several times the man rose and
took the cat’s seat > saying> “ It is now my turn to mew”.
((^^) T. Now it is my turn to dance.
[From the following anecdote} i
A camel and an ass were livin comfortably together
in the country. One day when they had come too near the
residential part of the villagei the ass began to bray. “Stop
braying) dear friend”) said the camel) ‘*lest the inhabitants
hear and give us burdens to bear ” . The ass answered )
“I can’t forbear from doing it) for this is my usual hour
for singing ”, So he went on braying until the villagers )
following the noise ) came and led both of them into
captivity.
The next day they had to cross a deep river) and
since it was impossible for the ass to cross it) the villagers
put the ass on the camel’s back to be carried across. When
the camel reached the middle of the river) he began to
caper. “Stop capering at this untimely moment”) beseeched
the asS) “or I shall be thrown into the river”. “Not so” »
retorted the camel) ^‘just as it was your turn yesterday to
sing in that untimely hour ) it is my turn to-day to dance
at this untimely moment”) and he went on capering until
the ass fell into the river and was drowned.
{ Arabic tradition ) F, 1 . Patriotism ori¬
ginates in faith.
-151
though it n>ay he a furnace.
c. E. Be it ever so humhle} there’s no place like home.
Notes. ( 1 ) \J^ is an A. word rarely used in P.i and
means ‘‘Well done” 5 “What a great , , etc. Its P. syno¬
nym is . (2) is the stove or furnace by which
a public bath is heated? and is often used in P. literature
to mean an uncomfortable place? being an antonym and
correlative of “ a flower-garden
^E. E. To make mountains out of mole-hills.
T. To make a knob {or dome) of a grain of corn.
Note. This is a rare pvb.? the commoner correspon¬
ding pvb. being ^ (sJJ>} )
^ o ^
^ Ill-gotten ? ill
spent.
E,T. What has been illicitly gained goes out of the very
door by which it has come.
Note. is a religious term meaning “ forbidden
or declared unlawful by religious law ” ? and its antonym
is JM^
• f ^Why commit a theft for just a
turnip ? See Note in the preceding pvb.
E. E, As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.
^ o ^
E. T, Roguishness is not expensive
( or difficult ) .
Note. jSf means literally illegitimacy ? and
figuratively roguishness or knavery.
ftjA- y>- F. F. Be a robber ? if you
want ? but do not rob the table ( i. €. Do not eat so much
that little or nothing is left for othexS) .
^ ^words and a dog’s pocket-
knife ( are the same ) . ( This means that you cannot rely
on his words } ,
O-
-152-
a trade ( Of
profession) > and you will not have to burn in the flames
of poverty.
C-*(! ^jjb T. A man’s profession ( Of trade ) is
his ornament.
8 ^ * 8 ^
^^ Words are but wind. ( Lit, ) Words
amount to air.
8^ <3- 8^
i5 ^ cici T, Talk brings on talk.
E. E. One word leads to another.
o ^
.ijOi ^ ^^ logical ( or rea¬
sonable ) remark has no answer, { Said by one who admits
that the remarks made by another are all right } .
j\ 3^ ^^• Truth is Spoken spontaneously.
(Lit,) True words come to (or are uttered by) the tongue
( spontaneously ) .
8^ O 8^
c—t ^ ^ iSj>. Same as ",3^^
8^ <3- 8^
\j o oy 3^^ T. Do not say the truth lest your
head may be cut off. ( Meaning ( a ) Not every truth
may be revealed » ( b ) Am I to blame because I have
spoken the truth ? ) .
Note. This will become a regular hemistich if
is changed to •> and pronounced* O which is the collo¬
quial way of Saying U O .«
sC? <3- 8^
O L:^)T ? \j F. T. What
you heard about others was really aimed at yourself. Cf,
etc.
^JiO J ^' The tongue is fearless ( lit,
loose ) in saying a truth.
8 ^: 8 ^
I <) L, E. (a) A word to the wise
-153-
(is sufficient), b) A nod for the wise i a rod for the fool.
Cf, <jU. etc,
P,T, He who is a man must be spoken to once.
P. P• Rather gulp down your
words seven times than have to swallow it.
Note, The idioms ‘‘to gulp down one’s tears or sobs”
is commonly used in E. j and I found myself obliged to
extend it to one’s “ words ” as well > and > incidentally i a
similarity arises between “gulp” and “ swallow whereas
the latter means to “ withdraw ( one’s statement ) as er¬
roneous”. At any rate the pvb. recommends a thorough exa¬
mination of one’s words before uttering them > so that one
needs not swallow or regret them afterwards.
J^, O O-O T. Ask the truth from the child.
( Children ? drunkards ( See , and insanes
(See the next pvb,) usually speak the truth } .
T. The truth must be heard
from the madman.
j,:; P. T. Obscene talk is better suppressed
( or concealed ) .
Notes. (1) I have heard this phrase only from the
Persian Jews j and doubt if it is used by the rest of the
Iranian population. ( 2 ) is a sun-dried brick ? and
rimes with “ obscene ” .
c-l
courtesy. .
8^ “O’ 8^
P. P. Listening to others ’ advice is
hA)L) Ij ^ P. What is past must not be talked over.
P. Let bygones be bygones.
P. A man’s word is one (/. c. A man should
not change > or go back from? his word ) .
Note. Sometimes this is changed to ^
which gives an opportunity to perjurers and turncoats »
-154-
though in jest) to expand the pvb. and say
<> VL^ <b b" C—t r What a man says con¬
sists of 0 P 2 e word i hitherto I used to say ) “ Yes ” > but
hereafter I shall say» “ No ” .
P. Man chats as the ox chews the cud.
8 ^ * 3 ^
J*JU F. T. There is many a word that
strikes deeper than a sword.
E. E. ( Same as for )
> j! ci^j) ^ kzS^ Same as ^ y jl €tc.
F. T. The
world will not satisfy the greedy » while a loaf of bread
will Satiate the contented man.
^ b 4;^b ow T, The party who has
lost always quarrels with himself.
sCs o sS?
ou j>' oi> ,>■ F. T, Opponents know each other
too well.
F. E, (a) When Greek meets Greek? then comes the tug of
war. (b) Set a thief to catch a thief.
F. T. To give pounds ? one must
save the pence.
F. F, A hard gathering > a wide scattering.
F. E. (a) Short accounts make long
friends, (b) Even reckonings make lasting friends, (c) Fair
and square keeps friends together.
f . An account is an account j a brother a brother. See
U; etc.
Note. 1S*U* is a provincial word for y
F. T. Claim neither less
nor more than your due.
- 1S5 -
^ 4.kailscej>l Jji) S ante as ^Uo- <ri^T etc
ij>if «Xm£>’ T. Jealousy is a remediless disease.
^ <3- 3^2
<r ^^3 ci^ C^JL--p- r. Little Hassan
would not go to work} and when he would? it was on Friday.
^^ote, Friday is the weekly rest-day of the Moham¬
medans.
P. T. My beauty lies in my
outward appearance ? while underneath my hair there are
signs of baldness.
Note, (1) originally means scalp ringworm or
scalp disease* but is often rendered as “baldness” » which
properly means . (2) A variant form of this pvb. sub¬
stitutes jif L 6, “ the essential thing ” for .
(3) The pvb. is cited when some one conceals his essential
faults or real poverty by a good appearance. Ct, the E, To
save appearances.
jT'ytb 7. The jealous never had tranquillity.
8^ <3- 2^
is due to men is more
Serious than what is due to God ( or Sin against mankind
is worse than sin against God) .
8^ <3- 2^2
E. E, In the long run right will out.
The rightful {Of entitled) party will enjoy his right.
^ <3- aSt
j <u U-ckA 3 y?-
'P~ The great God sees and covers it * your neighbour
who doesn’t see it roars about it. { The pronoun “ it ”
refers to a sin or transgression } .
.0^ T. Truth is a sharp sword.
»«^* ^q^3j oLm E, E. The baby is the king of
the house.
T, A baby’s order is better executed than a king’s.
-156-
u>il Cominandments are based on the acts
of the majority.
Mofe. One example is the Islamic commandment that
forbids the drinking of wine to everybody because the
majority of people who get drunk brawl and commit sins.
laic ^ J T, It is wrong to teach .^Esop
wisdom. See etc. and the Note under it.
E. E. Don’t teach your grandmothers to suck eggs.
Sjg -O' 2^ ‘ '
olp'Ujo wf®The governor’s order is ( like ) a
sudden death ( i. it must be executed unfailingly) .
vCl) oJIa t ^ ^' The best physician
is he who has experienced illness.
Notes. ( 1 ) which is a sage has come to mean
a physician as well t its modern synonyms being and
w*** «^ . (2) hAitfU OhXo Iis colloc|uial for oXxi 1
3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
XjiT T. “ Lay down the head - physician. ”
{^Frorn the following anecdote^ :
A Tu rkish prince was once affected with colic > and
the head - physician in his court prescribed for him an
enema. But when the prince was told the manner of ap¬
plying the enema y he got angry > and asked the doctor j
“ Whom are you going to have treated in this way ? ” ?
and the frightened physician immediately said i “ Me
The prince then said to his attendants i “ Lay down the
head - physician and have him injected in the prescribed
manner The story goes that as soon as this was done? the
prince was relieved of his pain » and from that time on j
whenever he fell ill » no matter what the illness was > he
used to order his attendants to “lay down the head-
physician ” .
The phrase (^5^^ bas now become
proverbial inasmuch as there is usually a certain unfortu¬
nate man who is always to blame for anything that happens.
—I . The doctor has recom -
- 157 -
mended a cockerel for her. ( Cited in case when an old
woman has married) or wishes to marry? a young husband) .
F, T. Seek not the way to have rosy cheeks from a pale-
faced physician.
F, £. Physician ? heal thyself.
Cf. etc,
jt Jt Allowed to the wise ) but
forbidden to the foolish. (Said of wine) . C/.
^ and y jLl«T
2^3 -O' 2^
^XmI) ^^What is lawfully
gained by a person is hardly expected to be faithful to
him j much less what is unlawfully gained by him.
^^Same as l>b- etc,
sS? *
T, One may make
sweetmeat with chalk (lit. lime ) ? but it cannot be eaten
(/. e. Severe measures may be planned out ? but may not
succeed in practice ) . (Sf, i3l»“ etc.
Note. This pvb. seems to be in use among the Jewish
population of the country.
kS'^3^ ^ The proof of the pudding
is in the eating.
P, 7 . Until you eat of the sweetmeat ) you will not know
(how it tastes) .
Note. is of obscure meaning ? but a shrewd
friend of mine believes means sweetmeat
eaten between two (^^ ) ’* - alluding to sexual intercourse.
f»* c#*/’ F. A Turkish bath - house is not
( after all ) so hot (/. e. You are drawing the long bow) .
T. There can be no hot bath without
sweating ( f. e. You have to give a bribe to attain such
- 158 “
and such an aim ) .
No^e. is a Turkish hath or a sweating-hath.
tT— T, The hath-house is not a place to
tie an ass in ( A place for everything and everything
in its place ) .
(juju; k ) JUJU^ O Where there
is too much henna ) they use it to tinge their heels ( t. e.
An excess is used wastefully) . Ci. \j Si
^ <y ^
T. His henna is colourless ( i. His words
have no effect or weight i I know him too well to think
much of him ) .
^ o ^
T, A draft (or cheque) due at harvest time,
( Referring to an evasive reply or a false promise
given by one to his creditor ) -
cit jC,\ ^ ji !j To the nymphs of
Paradise the Purgatory is hell.
Nofes, ( 1 ) Although collective for
houri “ nymph of paradise ” » the Persians further plura-
lize it in the form . ( 2 ) .cl a^af is a wall
between paradise and hell ? and hence it is rendered “pur¬
gatory” ) which » according to the Roman Catholic Church>
is a place of temporary punishment for the souls of those
who have committed venial sins.
1*^ T. Once you have
constructed a pool > frogs will of themselves come into
existence. A pvb. of various meanings j of which one is
the necessity of giving priority to essentials ) .
t) T. A pool that
has no water needs no fish ( or frogs )
^ o ^
U«*«l T. He has eaten his modesty (/. He
is impudent ) .
- 159 -
Note. This expression is sometimes humorously ex>
tended so as to read o^j J U 1 j
He has eaten his modesty with bread and yoghurt i
but Dehkhodo^ only adds to it C^JJ^ U
(and) has swallowed his honour ” .
Shamefacedness is an obstacle to
earning one’s daily bread. ( This is intended to mean that
where earning one’s daily bread is involved i one should
put away modest reserve ) .
Co-f A T, Men’s menstruation comes when
they meet their creditors.
(y \ J \ T, Alas for those who
died before having heard your voice. ( Said in derision to
one who sings badly } .
ks^ oj* vlua <r Mt? :^( u<Lp- f* r. it would be a pity
{of waste) to use gold for gilt objects. C/. c—i LiT
F. F, The game is not worth the candle.
He has plenty of excuses who is
in search of tricks.
^ U No rose without a thorn.
Cf, jUw JT
F. T. Where dates are » thorns are to be seen.
To have a thorn in one’s liver (/. to
be restless i also> to be sore at heart or afflicted ) .
To break a thorn in some
one’s liver {of soul) i. to render him restless or afflic¬
ted. Cl. the preceding expression.
<t
O JJ) oli J o*-'■i
^ T■ He sees the mote in his brother’s eye and not the
timber in his own eye. cf. Matthew 7:5.
* 8 ^
^ j\ ^LtL> T. Even a mote (or straw) will
pass by the sea - side ( i. e. Great men should not be
inaccessible to their inferiors ) .
U"" V? ^ • May not the dust carry the news to
him ! Said as an introduction to a ( bad ) remark about
some one who is dead » wishing the latter to remain una¬
ware of what is being said )
T. To throw dust in some one’s
scales ( i, e. to scoff at » or revile him )
sjs *0 ^
<Ci I jl ^L> F. T. Humble yourself
as the dust , before you are turned into dust.
ISote. The first hemistich to this is c>^lc
—.**i1 _)L> e. O brother > since in the end there is noth-
-161
ing but dust.
^C:> T, The dust in the street
is a remedy against tetter ( or eczema ) . ( Ironical remark
about women who are accustomed to gad about) ,
F, 1 , Once buried j soon forgotten. { It is
believed that the bereaved family of the dead will start
to quiet down and get comfort when they have actually
seen their dead buried ) .
I\ T. Dust has an attraction. {It is believed that
the place of burial of every person has been predestined ,
and hence > if a person has been buried in a certain place?
it is the grave dust of that place that haSf so to speak ?
drawn ( or attracted ) him.
The territory of one’s mo¬
ther country is more pleasant than Solomon’s dominion.
^
{^5 "S {^5 ^See ^1.5 e(c,
— IjOls- T, If the aunt had t — Si she would
have been an uncle.
F. E. If my aunt had been a man? sh’d have been my uncle.
Flole. A commoner pvb. for this idea is
etc. 7 but the one given here is a regular hemistich.
<0 J‘\ jubi\j <jU. F. T. The
aunt is wanted to help in needlework {or sewing) i otherwise
an aunt and a panther are one. { Relatives are expected to
help one another ) .
Fsote. The rime between the words and ex¬
tenuates the exaggerated comparison of “ an aunt who does
not help in sewing ” to a panther.
11
l6i-
F. T. Lady Beetle, fondling her child, says to her , “ I adore
your crystalline limbs ” . Cf.
Notes, ( 1 ) is a common phrase used by
a mother in fondling her child and means literally, “May
I be sacrificed to thee ” , (2) “ crystalline must,
of necessity, imply “whiteness ” , as the insect in the pvb.
is assumed to belong to the family of blade beetles.
[ ^ T. Silence is better than
idle talk .
h jt^ JU^fjd jli
F, T, Though they refused milk to the mistress , she sent
the maid for cream.
Note. means “churned sour milk”, and is consi¬
dered inferior to CxmLo which means “ yoghurt ” .
IT jiib Jir* t
F. E. (a) What is every man’s business is no man’s business.
(b) Too many cooks spoil the broth.
F. 1 . In a house managed by two mistresses dust is heaped
up as high as the knee.
Cf. 0 . 2 - L' <r etc. and U UU etc.
jJtKi ( ‘ICjj! ) U* c.i-1 iXtl) <jl> T. Better a
house full of enemies than one which is empty.
£. E. A full cabin is better than an empty castle.
sSs * sCs
C Ij ^ F. T, A single stone is
enough to do damage in a house full of glass.
C^f_ c—»l 4:U.<S^|j_^ etc.
2 ^ 2 ^
^ O** F. T. Do you expect to find copper
vessels in a bear’s den ?
Note, , which is erroneously changed to ,
means “ a bowl in which soup is served ” .
2^ O 2^
fSj^ 2-^ F, T. The
idegroom’s house shows signs of wedding , while there
*- 163 -
is no excitement in the bride’s house ( i, e. A man may
be cocksure that he will marry a certain woman j while
the latter has not yet expressed her consent to the marri¬
age. The pvb. is a caution against premature hopes ) .
Note. The reverse of this pvb. also exists , that is
Ails- C.-J ^5ijU-
or o-J jt (j-J jc. Ail>
tf- <t
iu. r. The liar’s house
was set on fire? but none would believe it. { From the
story of the man who falsely cried “Fire” so often that on
one occasion when his house was really on fire', his genu -
ine cry for help was ignored } .
Note, The E. proverbial expression “ to cry wolf too
often” should be so modified as to be adapted to the P, pvb.
{ s 45 L> T. Ransack a
friend’s house . but do not (even) knock at your enemy’s
door ( to beg ) .
C.J o^J" 4iL> E. E. It is a lightening before death,
f. He has lightened the house.
iSt * iSt .
(H* ojUi Ul c-.( Jls-J JAy=^.>l9 4iU. r. You will find
plenty of walnuts in the Cadi’s house, but all is kept ac¬
count of. (You have no share, or are not concerned in, the
properties possessed and controlled by other people).
Note. A variant form of this pvb. gives li-l jUil
(which rimes with C.-UL-J) for ejUi
4)1^ T, We never went
to the Jew s house, but once when we did it was on Saturday.
Note. Since the Jews are religiously forbidden to
work 5 or to light fires , on Saturday , which is the Jewish
Sabbath , or rest-day , they cannot very well entertain vi¬
sitors or guests on this day.
F. T, The mistress stays in
the house from poverty (not from piety) .
-164
Note. literally means ‘‘want of a veil” >
and Moslem women never came out of their houses wi¬
thout covering themselves with the See expla~
nation on Page 69.
< 3 - ^
F. T. The household
will be ruined if housekeeping is entrusted to a child.
(Emphasizing the serious nature of housekeeping and domes¬
tic economy).
-Cf
jSb ^U).^ 4)1^ F. T, The unexpected guest* whoever
he be* must take pot-luck.
C-*-^ oy P* The traitor is always apprehensive.
Note. This is apparently not original* as it seems to
be a translation of the A. pvb. ^1:^1 (J, v,
cr-^ Jji ^13- E. E. To perform a Herculean task.
To cringe before* or fawn upon*
some One.
Natural meanness is not
revealed even after many years.
• Bad news travel fast. Cf. the E. Ill
weeds grow apace.
Note. Other variants are ^ h)
2^ -a-
^ . It you have a heart-rending piece of news* keep silence
and let others tell it.
^r. God holds grey hair in reverence.
{Lit.) (Even) God is ashamed of the grey hair. (Stressing
the necessity of honouring aged people) ,
JT<) \j F, T. God fordid that one
eye should depend on ( lit, he in need of ) the other eye
( friends or relatives had better be independent of
one another ) .
fcAif* ^ jcS' May God cleanse us before
burying us (/, May we die after having repented and
being cleansed from our sins).
ol^^PiA F. T. Do not expect regard
for God from him who has regard for himself.
UmU Om»F. T. One Can eit'ier serve God or
serve his belly. {Lit, ) ffe who worships God is not
gluttonous.
OmI oJ^ ,$U
the five f
2 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
^' God has not created
ingers alike. Cf. sZ^JLCi] etc.
OlSLxxi Jasd U( tjks- F. r. God may
minimize one’s daily bread but will not reduce it to no¬
thing. Cf. ^ etc.
T. God knew ( the nature of) the
assi therefore^ He wouldn’t give it horns. Cf. \etc,
^ o ^
cilt» \j Us- r, God sends the illness aceor-
ding to one’s power to stand it. Cf, Ij L* ^ U^- etc and
its E. E,
' 4 ? < 3 - 2 ^
b \j < 25 ^r j See under etc,
_ ^ <s
F. I . God may call us to
account very late? but will punish us severely.
Though the mills of God grind slowly » yet they
grind exceedingly small.
. _ -O'
Ljr^L. 'I. Thank God that we bled
him. {Lit.) Xt was God’s mercy which made us bleed him.
{Said in case when a preparatory measure has prevented
tlic aggravation of a circumstance} .
- 166 -
^ Vb jJaJ \j KtijM P. T. God tempers the cold
weather according to our clothing.
£. £. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. .
\j l-*>- etc,
Notes, ( 1 ) The other senses of VL> are
“overcoat” and “quilt ” . (2) Another form of this pvb.
reads JUbJU* \j^ where ( go»j )
means “ volume ” or “amount” ,
^ •AiT May God
cause a great wall to fall so as to fill up these ditches. (By
“ditches ” is meant sundry expenses ? and “ a great wall”
alludes to' a round sum of money to cover them.
c«-l P. T, God befriends those who are alone
in the world.
E. E, The nest of the blind is made by God.
SSS -C> 2^8
^ ji <Ul> Iwt^U J I IbA^
P. T. God guides the ship where He willi though the cap-
tin rend his clothing ( in despair ).
E, E. No use striving against Fate.
Note. This verse has been tampered with by some
people who make it read'
j) <UL> ^J IjL^ JJbi <r I ^j>
^ <s ^
P.T. God never gives us a second life.
[ j ta_:>
F. T. Where God’s divine wisdom closes one door> His grace
will open another.
E. E. (a) Where one door shuts ? another opens, (b) God
never closed one gap that He did not open another.
^ O ^
^bt X. God is not
a carpenter) but can properly join together the door and
the board, ( Ffeely ) God mates the door and the doorway.
V Cited in case when a man and wife are good matches^.
sjs <3- sjg
-167 -
^ F. T. When Fortune conies
one’s descent ( or personality) is ignored.
ij 4 Sj1 Uloi-
? <CjTj 2\ o Lord* what hast Thou
withheld from him whom Thou hast granted wisdom •> and
what hast Thou given to him whom Thou hast deprived
thereof ?
F. T. God assists the lazy man.
2^ -O' 3^8
IfcA^ F. T. If only God gives a grain of luck.
Cf, ^ ^ etc. & the E, It is better to be lucky
than wise.
<r ^
i-tAfcA) F. r. God send
you more wit ? and me more money.
2^ O 2^
F, f. One God and one spouse.
htote. vb means “ sweetheart j partner? or friend ” ?
and in the pvb. under reference it must be taken to mean
spouse or wife ” .
{ ‘^-^*^** } wtAwtj iaXc uA^^ 4 ^jto ^(uA'>’ F. 7 . God makes no
mistake in giving ( /. e. He gives to every man what he
deserves ) .
2^ <3- 2^
F. T. No taxes are claimed on ruined
properties.
2^ <5- 2^
T. The ass will not lose its manger
(^. Every one knows enough about his own way of living}.
^ j\ p T. An ass is an ass
though clothed in satin. See E. E. under etc.
2 ^ 2 ^
115****' } ^ -j^ that carries a
load is better than a lion that devours men.
-16 8 -
F. T. The ass which carries loads
( willingly) is always sure to be loaded.
E. E. A willing horse is run to death.
Nole. It is doubtful whether the pvb. is of Iranian
Origin j rather it seems to have been adopted from the E.
pvb. here given.
t ^ P. 1. The ass will not drink by
a kiss or message. ( Indicating that harshness and force are
needed for doing certain things ) .
O *^^ carry asses to Khora^Sa^.
E, E, {Same as for }
C jl >> <r iSjm ^7 j\
P. 7. The man who » like an ass > has an eye to grass >
Is far inferior to an ass.
ts, ^ ts.
T. A sweet melon falls to the
lot of the hyena. {One example is the marriage of a beau¬
tiful girl to an ugly man } .
^ ‘ The ass’s foot goes into the
ditch only once, (Even an ass is warned by the first lesson}.
^ ^ jS^ i . An old ass and a coloured bridle !
I\ote, The E. pvb. “ Old mares lust after new crup¬
pers is quite a different thing i but we may refashion it
into ‘‘An old mare and a new crupper ! ” so as to find an
equivalent for the P.
^ ‘ The ass that goes before
another ass serves as a bridge for the latter (P e, Predeces-
sois usually give lessons of warning to their successors).
7'. Though the tliief is a person
whom you knowi it is better to tie your ass.
F. E. 1 ) Caution is the parent of safety. 2 ) Fast bind i
fast find.
- 169 -
Cf. --!
Up 1,^ i»l^| ^ \j C-KU
etc
SC? -0-
o*^«^ ^5^->* If the
expense comes out of the guest’s pocket , it is easy to
become t-l^t am ~ I - 1 ai ( /. e. It is easy to be liberal
with another person’s money.
l^otes, (1) Hritavi , or more correctly Ha.t€m^ was a
man Iroin the Arabian tribe He is proverbial for his
liberality and hospitality. ( 2 ) A variant form of this
proverbial verse has for <r
3^1 jt? If you seek to obtain an assj seek
to obtain barley as well. { He who marries and wishes to
have children, must think about their food and clothing} .
uS.
to be mad ) .
^ . To have a crab in one’s brain ( /. c\
^ E. E. Do not cast pearls bef ore swine.
I", t * The ass will never know the value of sugar and candy.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is b <?-
-> where means “sugar-plum ” , but this hemi¬
stich has a different rythm froni that of the preceding.
Jr*; A P- ’ • Better to hear
the death-rattle of one’s mother-in-law than the warbling
of the nightingale.
Note. “ Mother-in-law ”, as used here, means “ one’s
wife s mother , and E)ehk,hoclsi observes that the saying is
not true in the majority of cases , where “ the mother of
one’s wife is one’s second mother ” . Personally , I have
noticed that grievances against wives’ mothers are more
prevalent among the Moslems than among the Jewish por¬
tion of Iran’s population.
p. <>
J F , L . The ass is tired , while
the Owner is not yet content.
The sleeping ass will not get its corn
- 170 -
( i//. barley) . '^•**1 etc,
*:c
^yJuUwW* Jj O ^ . To cause one’s ass to cross the
bridge ( /. to attain one’s aim i also? to get over one’s
difficulties ) .
t?.
j\ O T. Drive your own aSS ( /. So long as
you can attain your aim ? don’t care about other people’s
faults), a. the preceding proverbial phrase,
J exchange one’s ass for another’s
cucumber.
Note, If the E. proverbial expression to throw a
Sprat to catch a herring ” could be reversed » we should
have a near parallel for the above P. phrase.
ji wf"c.«t ojl^ P. T. He is
that proverbial ass? which? through stubbornness? endangers
its own life in order to cause a loss to its owner.
Note, is an ass marked with a stripe extending
from the head to the tail.
^ o ^
jA 0 h T. He eats the ass with
the manger ? the dead with the tomb. Said of an
impious glutton ) .
wOb .
o
■: <r w.**) U An ass must
be tied where the master will have him.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is D
<r aju:, ^
o^3^'> ^-1 J> T. The ass cannot be turned into
a horse by beating.
Cf, the E, You cannot wasli a blackamoor white.
F. I , They take the ass to
the wedding only in order to load it.
I\ote. This pvb. seems to liave its origin in the fol¬
lowing versified story by Khaghsini :
171 -
c-aT'
a free translation of which in prose is as follows :
A little ass j heing invited to a wedding » laughed
until he became quite weak. He said ? “ I do not dance
well j nor am I a good minstrel i ( surely then ) they call
me for drudgery j for I can draw water well > and am good
for carrying fuel. ”
oi js*- \j F. T. Asses
kept together do not become of the same colour » but as¬
sume a common odour.
E. E. (a) Tell me the company you keep j and I will tell
you what you are. (b) A man is known by the company
be keeps.
Mote. “ Odour ’’ in this pvb. alludes to character »
and hence some would replace by which means
“ of the Same habits> congenial 5 etc. ”
«0>< (^1^ OiCjo O jS- F.T. An ass is killed by
an overload j and a youth by encouraging flattery.
Mote. ^pl which originally means “ what God
has willed” is used as an exclamation to mean? (1) “Well
done ! ” i (2) “ May God preserve you from evil eye ! ” j
etc. The idea is that a young man w ho is about to carry a
load may allow to be overloaded if the on-lookers encourage
him to do so and admire his strength by saying
Cf. the E. The last feather broke the earners back j also^
A willing horse is run to death.
^ <r
F . T. The satisfaction of an ass
means that of its owner.
2 ^ * 2 ^
^‘ The ass which is taken to a wedding is expected to
drudge ( lit, draw water ) j not to have a good time. Cf.
< 3 -
- 172
^ ^ He has lost his ass » and
he searches for its shoe. ( Referring to one who is looking
for the non-essential after he has given away the essential}.
cf, ^ S-—1 etC’
Note. Some replace J*** for which means “pack-
saddle ” .
C <^^j T. To paint an ass ( /. e. to take in a fool or
to dupe a simpleton ) .
Note, From the expression j comes the
adjective ^5^ ^ which designates showy? but worth'
less objects.
2^ <3-
P. T. The ass walks fast wKe n going
jyb Jj
to the stable.
^ <> ^
2 , The bear is Avicenna in the
mountains.
P, P. ( a ) In the land of the blind the one-eyed are kings
(Scott 'lsh) , (h) He is a Triton among the minnows, (c) The
fool is wise where there is scarcity of wisdom.
2^ O 2^
^ ^ Contentment is next to wealth.
Cf. I jr (^Iq
%
P. P. (a) A man is only as rich as he is contented, (b) The
contented man is a rich man, (c) 1o be poor and conten¬
ted is riches enough.
r. He doesn’t reckon the ass he is
nding. ( The following anecdote will show the purpose
of this pvh, } : -
Molln-Nassrec/it/;/ had ten asses. One-day it occurred
to liim to count them? but since he was riding on one of
them at the time ? he failed to take notice of that
one , and so he counted only nine asses. On getting down
from the asS) and counting the asses again? he found them
to 1)0 ten in nuniLer.
^ P> N Riding an ass is
- 173 -
not much, of a crediti so much less falling down from an ass.
means “ a fault or defect ” .
I . An ass worth 300 dinars^t
and a pack-saddle worth 700 dinars, Cf. the E. pvb.
The game is not worth the candle.
Note, and iX^xaA meant formerly 3
tenths and 7 tenths of a R^al respectivelyi andj according to
the new monetary system? they are 3 and J respectively.
U**j^ has now crossed over the bridge.
(Though we have assisted him to get over his difficulties ,
now that he has attained his aim ? he is too ungrateful to
remember us } .
Cr ^' Make an ass of him and load him.
(By flattering and cajoling a person? you may induce him
to do anything for you } .
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is jU vUdl
^ Make him an ass ? and furnish him with a
bridle. In this case a rime is produced between .,r ^
and^r^>
^ o
<) ^ T. The ass of Jesus will not go to
Heaven ( /. e. It is not relationship with the great that
makes one great ) .
i_<S } ^'d!. Though
the ass of Jesus is taken to Mecca ? on its return it is
still an ass.
An ape is an ape? a varlet’s a varlet ?
Though he be clad in silk and scarlet.
Note. Pilgrimage to Mecca is considered? according to
the Mohammedans ? to enhance a person’s greatness or
hoi iness.
<)Li. 1) T. One should ride a hired
horse to the very door of his house ( /. e. One should
make the best of his money’s worth )
“ 174 -
^ grease the palm of a person
( j typically Karim) .
T. To shoe Karimas ass.
^ o ^
olf wW.^ ^ T. Once an ass has had ( or seen )
barley j it will not eat straw.
ph ^ jP- F,T. Once
an ass has fallen into a ditch> it will no longer go the way
where the ditch is. (Experience teaches even an assi so much
more a man } .
^ • To load oneself as an ass (i. to overeat
oneself \ to guzzle ) .
j*i etc- under ^ O >> etc,
wCIm T. The ass which
carries gypsum is made to carry stones from a quarry on
Friday( ) which is the weekly rest-day). (Pvb. showing how
the weak and defenceless people are treated) .
^ o ^
ji ij U F. T. From a bare ass none
can take a pack-saddle. Cf ^ etc.
F. E, ( a ) Where nothing is? nothing can be had. (b) ‘ Tis
very hard to shave an egg. ( c ) You can’t draw blood
out of a stone.
Not e, T, he sentence is grammatically wrong on account
of the double direct object; (j and
C-itji p'.5 u.> T. My ass never had a tail from the
time it was a foal. (A statement to free oneself from a diffi¬
culty or commitmenti and meaning? “ I have no pretensions
whatsoever to begin with). [From the following story']-:
A man who owed a certain sum to another was once
urged by the latter to pay off his debt forthwith? or else
go with him to the judge. The debtor agreed to go with
liim? but on the way it occurred to him to run away? and
so he fled into a house? which happened to be open? and
-175-
climbed the stair? leading to the house-top.
Meanwhile he was being pursued closely by the creditor j
who was about to catch him? but he threw himself down to the
court-yard, because the roof afforded no outlet to escape. Un¬
fortunately, however, he fell right on the landlord’s wife who
was lying on the ground, and the woman, who was pregnant,
met with an unhappy miscarriage. Her husband, who was
present, immediately took the man by the collar, and sued
him for damages. The man said, I am already going to
the judge with the creditor^ so let all three of us go to¬
gether
On the way they saw an ass, which had fallen down
under its excessively heavy load, and the owner of which
was entreating the passers-by to help him raise the animal
on its legs. They decided to help the poor man, and while
the other two men were removing the load and the pack-
saddle, the debtor tried to raise the ass by its tail, which
he held near the root. The first exertion, however, caused
the tail to be plucked off, and the owner of the ass started
a row and claimed damages.
Nevermind , said the debtor, in for a penny in
for a poundi since we are going to the judge for other mat¬
ters, you may join us as well”. So they proceeded - all
four of them-to the house of the judge, whom the debtor
managed to meet first, and to whom he made a sign, which
meant a greasing of his palm.
On hearing the several cases the corruptible judge said
to the creditor, “The burden of the proof lies with the
plaintiff,and hence you have to produce adequate evidence
to prove your claim against this man.” Now, the creditor
was unable to do this, so he was pronounced guilty of a ca¬
lumny, and adjudged to pay a penalty on that account.
To the Second man the judge said, “ Since this man
has been the cause of your wife’s miscarriage, you will
have to send your wife to his house, where he would make
her pregnant, and, furthermore, you will have to arrange for
her alimony for the time she will remain in his house ”.
No sooner had the judge pronounced this judgment
that the owner of the ass betook himself to his heels,
176 -
Saying) “ My afls had no tail from a foal
T. To carry dates to BaSra( h ),
E. E. ( Same as for )
JUC) T. He who has eaten dates will
not ( or cannot ) forbid eating them. ( From the following
tradition } : -
Once a woman) whose child was in the habit of eat¬
ing dateS) took him to the Prophet? whom she asked to
command the child to abandon the habit/ The Prophet told
the woman to bring the child in his presence on the mor¬
row) which she did. When on the next day the Prophet’s
campanions asked him the reason for the postponement* he
said that on the preceding day he himself had eaten dates?
and could not? therefore? forbid the child from eating
them.
Note. Sa^di has versifed this thought as follows*.
AS'j\ ^^’ Sde cannot eat
d'ltes out of the thistles sown by us. Cf. 31 etc.
As a man sows? so shall he reap.
Note. The second hemistich to 'the above is o).>^
Oil3i /. e. Silk cloth cannot be woven out of the
wool spun by us.
^ o ^
{ oaiLoi ^ My ass has not stuck in
the mud { e. \ am not in such a distress as to. . . . ) .
Cf
etc.
^ce under _
2^ 2CS
^ ^ 3jl 7 . He whose stack of wheat
is burnt fears not a thunderbolt ( /. He who has been
utteily ruined does not fear anything worse ) .
U F. I. He whose stack
of wheat has been burnt wishes others to have a like fate.
- 177 -
E, A company in distress makes sorrow less.
( ©Lii-I k ) yjy, b ^E, E. To take eggs for
money.
T, To compare cowries to pearls ( or to take glass beads
for pearls).
*"^*^5* 'E. An ass will break its halter to
join its fellows . Cf. etc.
E-, E. Birds of a feather flock together.
<UX, F, r. The ass which habitually
pilfers ( Of picks ) happens to be one of good taste.
Note. This may well apply to men? and may? there¬
fore? be allowed to read etc.
J-b wT< 0 ^ T, I am not an ass to have
an eye to water and grass.
Adapt the F. T. given for
(c-l) siUi ^ JlSi« F. T. Salt is salt whether
a ton Or a pound.
Note. ( 1 ) and Jl^ are roughly equal to 300
kilogrammes and 5.62 grammes respectively? the former li¬
terally meaning an “ ass - load ( 2 ) This pvb . ? though
approaching in sense v. , is mostly used
to mean that one should be grateful to any act of kindness?
whether great or small. See etc.
j ^
. An ass and a horse tied in the same stable will get
the Same habits? if not the same odOur. \j ^ etc
wO Jia«© ©UiIa F, T. An ass which is tired out
is too glad to hear “ Whoa ” .
Note. is colloquial for c—( and ^Ji^' is the
written form of the interjection used for stopping^ an ass?
although it is usually no more than a protracted ‘‘sh *’ sound.
12
- 178 -
JP 06 P. A cock which crows untimely ( a
person who does a thing in an untimely moment ) *
3^8 * 8 ^
mournings and weddings chickens (lit. cocks) are killed.
( The weak and defenceless are oppressed on all occasions
and on any pretext}.
^ju(j S T. To drive asses and oxen with
the same stick ( i. to disregard the different positions
of people and treat every one in the same way ) .
2 > $
jUbJU«3 O He doesn’t know a B from
a bull’s foot.
T. He doesn’t know an ass and a cow apart.
oJLm T. It is the same ass with
its pack-saddle changed. (Referring to a fool who has put
on a new suit or has been promoted to a new position}.
c*—^Silliness is not inherited.
* 3 ^
C-wl o P. T. Foolery is a gift from heaven.
P. P. Fools have the best luck.
Note. word suffixed by an A. ending-ori¬
ginally means “ asininity ” or “silliness ”» which is not a
suitable word to use in this case.
O O 3^2
\S born an ass* he lived
as an ass» and died as an aSs. { Said of one who has been
a fool throughout his lifetime },
Note. ( used he re in the sense of CMMJ.^(is a new
verbal form to mei and I think it has been used merely
to avoid the spoiling of the rythm of the hemistich. Of
course* if the word were pronounced ziady it would be the
third person singular of the verb but then it would
not go with the verbs j and ^jJb which are in the past tense,
aJIw jLC) ji- ( Same as jtc jt.1, > etc. )
- 179 -
oU^ J ci-ai :» c-Ai >J'
. An ass which carries easily a load weighing 60 mauSy
will not care for one weighing 6 5 mans.
Note. Many which is an obsolescent unit of weight? is
roughly equal to three kilogrammes.
2 ^ .{J-
Jk <r T. An ass which
is outstripped by another ass should have its mane and tail
cut off. (Quoted in jest for defying one's rival ? or for
encouraging some one to keep pace with his fellow-men.
Mjj ^vij «<r^> T. You have to bring
down the ass that was carried by yourself to the house-top.
( Said to one who has committed a gross act out of rashness?
and is considered to be the only one who can remedy it}.
Note, should be changed to U if it is to
be strictly grammatical.
^ o ^
e*"jijii iJju, [jJ ly ^jUju P- T. If the
first brick laid by the builder is out of level i the wall
will be out of perpendicular even if it goes up as high as
the Pleiades. (Stressing the serious effect of a bad founda-
tion or the innovation of a bad custom } .
Notes. is a sun-dried brick. (2 ) jUju is an
architect. (3) 0^* is the A. name for ‘the Pleiades'.
To mould bricks on water.
E. E. (a) To carry water in a sieve, (b) To throw stones
on the sea.
( Same as jy etc. )
( ) c-j Uai-^ U«. F. r. It is a mistake to
point out the mistake of the great.
Iki- y- oilji Uai. .> Uai. r. T. It is a transgression
against nature if he who was born of a transgression ( /. e.
illegitimately ) does not commit a transgression ) .
- 180 -
How can the sleeping one
awaken another who is asleep ?
E,E. (a) He that is fallen cannot help him that is down,
(b) The blind cannot lead the blind.
JiV ^ 3C^ p- P- Men are as they deserve to be.
Notes. ( 1 ) is the pi. of which means
“ creature ” or “nature” » but has come to mean “human
beings ” . ( 2 ) It is the rime between
which gives the phrase a proverbial shape.
Ua Cjd^ .>< ^ C-aX^ T. Better a beautiful figure than a
fine > silk robe.
^jT The half - witted man said
something and the brainless man believed it.
Note. This is surely a vulgar deviation from the
literary variant ijrjjKi
8^ •» O
^ p- P- One should be secluded from
strangers? not from friends. (/w poetical language'^ It is
not one^s sweetheart? but one’s rivals ? that should not be
allowed to come in ) .
8 ^ >0
^ oT. It is a full vat that oozes.
Note. I believe this pvb. is an allusion to the spon¬
taneous effusion of knowledge by a very learned man? or
else means that it is the rich man who is expected to give.
8 ^ * $
T. Sleep is the brother of { i. next
to ) death.
8 ^ 8 ^
(Same as ^1^ etc.)
jUk,..} T. A sick man’s dream is not true.
To cause to sleep like a hare ( i*
to calm by false promises? also? to lead by the nose).
Note. j- Of ^ “ hare’s slumber ”
- 181 -
P-T. The true mas
If the eunuch
means profound sleep and , figuratively » neglect.
^ Women’s dreams go by contraries.
85s * sjg
T, Dreams do not fill one’s hand
with anything real,
25 s
ter is he who cares for his servants.
85s * 2^
were ( destined ) to have a beard , he would have it
from the first day.
852 * 85 ?
uUcLd ^ ^jC, J ^ The covetous are
abject) and the contented honourable. C^. 0*1:5 efc,
(a) A man is only as rich as he is contented, (b) To
be poor and contented is riches enough.
852-0-2^
C--J E. E. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
T, To wish to do is to be able to do.
852 -O- 252
jMjJ ^U( c.-» P- P- The
table of the rich is full of delicious foods, yet the crumbs
in one’s own sack is more delicious.
oiu j) «tr ,^-r.^ui^ T. Befriend him who
befriends you. C<. jj.; iS\j; etc.
. » sSt
T. One’s sister-in-law is (like)
a Scorpion hidden under a carpet.
Sister-in-law in this case means the sister of
one’s husband.
252 o
^ CXUp-
Rome > do as the Romans do.
"ot want to be disgraced j suit your ac
tions to those of the masses {or congregation).
352 * 252
- 182 -
p, T*. Beauties arc unveiled i why then do you veil your “
self if you are not ugly ?
3^ * s3E
^'U- ) JUI ^j^A) c—I P. T. Human nature may
be trained into acquiring any habit.
T, He who falls of himself will not cry.
Cf. l-> •>jS' ij»- etc.
3 ^ -O' 3 ^?
( ^ ^ ^ The self "Conceited man
cannot discern the truth. {Lit.) He who sees himself can¬
not see God ( or the truth). Cf, the next entry .
Note. The versified hemistich in Sa'*di ? which reads
> is much preferred to the prose form
given above .
^ P^ P. The selfish are not pious.
{Lit.) He who admires himself cannot please God. cf. the
preceding entry.
P, ^ . Selfishness ) my dear
fcllow5 is the proof of ignorance ( or foolishness ) .
Note. This is most probably an alteration of ^JL^
O'" etc, t'*.
jJb \j \j oj ^ P. T. If you find yourself
wearied? consider your friend dead. (Said to one who feels
weary of another’s company } .
To fence with a question i
also ? to ignore a remark.
Note. On the outside of it ? this expression would
mean to turn to the street ( of one ) called Ali - Chap ” >
where chap means left ” ? unless a more reliable source
or explanation were found for . So much is certain
that the word “ left ” plays an important part in the ex¬
pression ) the idea being that in order to ignore a remark >
or fence with a question ? one often turns away from the
- 183 -
“ right” course of conversation.
O 2^
( JiiU ) i ^ ^ A>> P. T. Self - praise ,
my dear fellow > is the proof of ignorance. CTf. etc,
O r. For oneself vice > and
to others advice.
Note, originally means disgrace > and > by ex¬
tension 5 a disgraceful act.
sS* «•
-5?*^ ^3^ P- P- As you make your i»ed> so you
must lie on it.
t. One cannot avoid the consequences of one’s own act.
Note. Other forms of this pvb. are '—J Ij
and where and both mean “remedy”.
J ^
their own sport.
P. T. I gay it myself, and laugh at it myself; I am an in-
genious man ( indeed ).
I • * ^ ^
t P. T. In spite of the fact
that when I came myself you did not give it to me? I sent
my servant to get it. ( Said in case when one resorts to
an inferior means for obtaining an object when a better
means has failed }.
j F. I. I am
a lady of rank> and my brother is a kingi yet I have no
blouse) and he has no trousers. ( Said by those who have
rich and noble relations^ but who live in genteel poverty }.
Note. ig a colloquialism for ->-^1^
^ <r
^^3^ P' 1 have done it myself,
and curse on this “self ”. Cf. c —: ^.. 0 ; Ij .j S'
r* r' * •* ^ ^
. As you make your hed. so you must lie on it.
* sS
r <u. 1 .. I iS^jl
^ *" J ^ E. E, Live not to
- 184 -
eati but eat to live.
F, T. One should eat in order to live and praise Godi but
you believe that one lives to eat!
tjf-i enjoy¬
ment but will pay dear for it afterwards. ( Said of deli¬
cious but unhealthy foods }.
Note. which originally means “ to pay back”
alludes in this ph rase to suffering from the undesirable
results of eating the foodi i. getting sick.
( j;^ Dri*^king wine is not
worth the hang - over.
<Aiu? F. E. A Barmecide feast.
Notes. (1) is a dish of nieati vegetables: and fat:
which the Iranians serve with boiled rice. ( 2 ) J*’ is a
kind of gnawing sensation in the digestive organs caused
by hunger.
jul^ J.^ Same as
j I j> I F. T. What a happy thing it
is when a well produces water of its own! ( This means
th at it is a blessing if one uses his own intelligence }.
Note. A. variant form of this pvb. replaces
by o'
^ ^ F. T. He is welcome to whom
**Welcome!” is said.
^ o ^
^ ^ • Life is pleasant: but
alas! it is not everlasting.
Enthusiastic in going to meet:
but loath to sec off. { Used figuratively of one who enter¬
tains a new proposal: or the like: enthusiastically: but
shows signs of inconstancy thereafter ).
185 -
i-UO fcAiO The true-born does
not transgress? and the low - born is not constant.
t ^ cT* -’■^ iS-?-’ V I*" P- T- What a good
thing it is when the touchstone of trial disgraces a person
who is not pure ( of heart)! { Quoted in defiance of one who
boasts without fear of a trial }.
T, Happy are those who are
cheerful whatever the circumstances are .
T, The good-natured are
always gifted with a good living,
2^ <!■ O
^^1*1 Speak fair and you will be
given quarter ( or you will be in safety ). Cf . 3 etc.
E. h. The tongue talks at the head’s cost.
^ Same as ltL etc.
jCs ^
V ^ ^ ^
^ ^ It is not befitting for a garment to be half satin and
half sack-cloth.
^ o ^
jm lib T. An ear of corn has one head ( or end ).
Note. Dehkhodo, confesses that he does not know the
meaning of this pvb.? but another writer Say 3 »“ They say
this to one who has too many expectations”.
^ A bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush.
. A kite in my hand is better than a crane in the air.
etc,
“-HV ^ ^ E. You can’t draw blood out of a stone.
E. r. You can’t draw blood from a reed.
( vj*^ E- E. To eat one’s heart out? suffer
- 186 -
very much ( in silence ).
T. To drink the blood of one’s liver { or heart ).
^ ^ Blood is not washed out by blood.
“E. E, ( a ) One does not wash away blood with blood (but
with water), (b) Cleaning a blot with blotted fingers makes
a greater (blot), (c) Two wrongs do not make a right.
1^1 oJuT T. His blood is boiling ( /. He is
stimulated on account of consanguinity ).
E, E, His blood is up.
J’i ijJt J h P.T. We bled
him and he died» imagine what would have happened if
we had not bled him!
T, The blood of sucK and
such a person is no redder than mine ( i. e. We should
both suffer equally j as he is no dearer than I am.
Uote, The pronouns in this phrase may be changed
so as to make it applicable to any two persons.
Murder will out.
l\ T. Uni awful bloodshed will not remain still ( Of hidden),
( J JO IB nature
is a heavy burden ( or HI nature and a heavy burden are
the Same ).
Note, also means a bad habit.
( yi ^§3) \S <r JO
E. I. A bad habit deeply rooted in one’s nature does
not die until the possessor dies.
E. E. Habit is second nature.
who plan our ruin. cf,
p. -w-
is our kin
- 187 -
^^ • Matrimonial union and business
transactions take place by mutual consent.
U ^ lA:?ja>Vb 6 ^ij
P. T. The tailors were summoned ( to court ) » the pack-
saddle - makers also pushed themselves in. Cf. ciLx.
Ij e^c.
P. E. Every aSS thinks himself worthy to stand with the
king’s horses.
oVL^ H. E, To build castles in the air.
E, T, To nourish vain hopes in the mind.
Note, and literally mean ** raw ” and “ to
cook ” respectively.
(A.) E, E. (a) The golden mean ( is best ) .
(b) A middle course is best, (c) Neither extreme is good.
t. The best part of anything {or any affair) is the mid¬
dle of it,
jjii S ( A. ) The best speech is that which is
concise and expressive.
E. E. Few words are best.’
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
osju-o cjj E. T, Be charitable '■> mosques
(^. opportunities) arc numerous.
Notes, (1) One meaning of is that given for
alms. (2) Alms were usually given in the mosques.
F. T, A good act (/. e, the reward
of it ) returns to the doer. Cf . *\j etc.
E. E. Virtue is its own reward.
God gives is not conditioned on one’s merit i it is the latter
which is conditioned on what God gives,
2 ^ * 2 ^
P. T, You have given ( away )
foolishly j you must take it back prudently. ^Making loans
is considered a foolish act? and much prudence is required
to recover them ) .
I have ? but will not give it >
and you should thank me for it, ( This is a reply to one
who asks for something? say a loan ? and the point is that
a definite reply? though it may refuse to grant a request?
is worthy of appreciation } ,
3SS <3- <Cg
F. T. One who has riches has leave
to put on haughty airs.
j M> j j? 7 . 3e not rich and you
will be relieved from cares (i//. calamities )
b. E. Much coin? much care.
^ o ^
docs not take a doubtful medicine.
C ^ vj=y, r. T.
T. A wise man
Medicine is of no
avail to a dead person. ->1 etc.
P. E. (a) After death the doctor, (b) Shutting the stable
door after the steed is stolen (or after the horse has fled).
2^ -O' O
-189
1 . The gallows and the preacher’s
pulpit come from the same tree. (Good and bad children
may haTe the same parents } .
< 3 - 2 ^
E. E. (a) Take a hair
of the dog that bit you. (b) Pluck a hair of the same wolf.
The remedy for a scorpion bite is a dead scorpion (i/7.
a scorpion that has been killed ).
No^e, A variant form of this pvb, substitutes o^L>
for
F. T. It is what you
have that counts? not what you used to have,
C/. the E. pvb. Better to say here it is than here it was.
_ aS? ■H' 2^
jIa ^ ^ ^ ^ T. Anyth ing one has may be
f(mnd useful ? though it is a snake’s poison. ^
**iT etc.
p ^
F. 2 . The belly deprived of
food feels worse than a person bereaved of his dear ones.
To appeal for help to
the ignoble mistaken for the noble.
j> ( T. To tuck up one’s skirt ( /. e. to
be ready to serve willingly or to embark on something
with a high ambition ) ,
o^Lif b F. T, The wise man
will act on a hint » and the fool only under blows.
tSi etc,
F. E. A nod for the wise ? a rod for the fool.
Mote, means a bat? or loosely ? a rod,
^ p
jXJa£> F• 'F, The wise
man is like the perfume - seller’s tray — silent but giving
o«t virtue.
2 ^ 2 ^
- 190 -
^ ^ lit,^ F. T, The wise
man knows hut still asks > the fool does not ask though
he does not know.
Nofe, I have also frequently heard J
8 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
Knowledge is power. C/. hlj Ujy
c—jjt)Uj I ©0^^ Knowledge is the offspring ( /.
result ) of experimentation.
8^8 * ^
jU\ c.«( <jf^ See under jh-;
^ Why didnH you see the net— you
who Saw the grain ? ( From the anecdote of the hawk or
eagle which ? while on the wing > saw a small grain on
the ground laid in the centre of a large net > and boasted
of its keen eye-sight » but whichj after swooping down on
its prey, was caught in the net without taking notice of it}.
_ ©l-^
F. r. A peppercorn and a beauty’s birth-mark are both
black and of a consuming nature i but the one has nothing
to do with the other. (Said of two things, which, in spite
of a slight outward similarity between them, are substan¬
tially different } .
-g- 8^
:■*-) ^ J'-> oaS=49.
you know what 2a2 said to his son* R.ostam^ the
hero? He said, “The enemy cannot he disregarded as weak
and defenceless ” .
jS F.J,a nurse kinder to a child than its
mother.
Cf. the E. More Catholic than the Pope.
Note. Those who think it is impossible for a nurse
to be kinder to a child than its mother , expand this
proverbial phrase to read -'ll; Ij jaU j)
- 191 -
*
e, A nurse kinder to a child than its mother should
have her breast cut off.
8^ -B-
J lT-SjS- JS3 F. T. I an, talking to you, O
niaid, so that the bride may hear it. Cf. etc
I beat him to frighten you.
^j ■ Girls grow like mushrooms ( lit.
cress seeds ). { Girls are usually supposed to grow faster
than Boys }.
Note, I have also heard where JjS" means
“ squash ”,
Jis-i T. Sa’di’s daughter ( /. e. a woman who is to be
found everywhere except in her own house; also, a gad-
about ).
Note. Dehkhoda notes that a certain man, called Sa’di,
had a daughter of this habit, i. e. a man other than
t>a at, the great Persian poet. However, this assumption,
as well as that which makes the poet the father of such
a daughter) are Both uncertain,
. i . You may know the daughter By the mother) the
quality of canvas By its width.
^ iSj^^
• . ine girl who is praised By her mother is only fit to
Be married to her uncle.
Note. j/U IS one’s maternal undo while the word for
one s paternal uncle is
^ ^ ^
U 0,5T, A wild animal trained By
experience is Better than an inexperienced man.
<r <, v^T VJ F. T. Better be drowned
than seek quarter from the frog, (T/. etc.
i *-T . ^* 2^8
^ fj^ * It is Better to Be in fire
- 192 -
than out of it. ( Rumours about an accident are often so
exaggerated that one would prefer to be in the midst of
it in order to see it for himself }.
<r E. E. It is a long lane
that has no turning.
E. T. A desert road that has an end is not long.
( T, It is the income which
makes a man generous.
jF'i JtwlJ \jr^ There is
no one without a sorrow in this worldi if there is one) he
is not a human being. Cf, Jj etc.
^ o ^
Jr* To show one the gate of a green
( or pleasant ) garden { i. e, to allure some one by showing
him a temporary attractive sight of anything? or the best
sample of it ).
25? s5g
^ To take pearls to the sea.
P. T, {Same as for *^.3)
258 * 3St
U ^ F. T. A closed door will keep out
a lion.
VI . ajs O sSs
^ is better to be in a calamity than
out of it. C/. ^ etc,
s 58 <5- s5g
iA^ C-xjy E. 7 . In the desert even an odd
shoe is a gift from God.
^ ^ ^ Some substitute ‘ = old shoe” for
^ . (2) The suggested E. pvb. “Half a loaf is better
than no bread” is more suitable for the pvb.
, ^ s5g
I (Same as etc.)
^ o ^
C-.^J {Us/ially Ji jQ E E. To be
frantic with joy! leap for joyi be overjoyed.
- 193 -
T, Not to be contained in one’s skin.
^ o ^
1 J ^- To a wise man Saturday and
Friday are the same.
^ F. T, Delay ( of postponement ) causes ma¬
ny troubles. ( L//. ) There are calamities in delaying.
Nofe. This is evidently a P. translation of the com¬
moner A. saying oli I ^
jl) r. To dance in the dark (/. e. to boast
without proof ). See also d^j
J>1 >> <U9l9 F. T. When there is scarcity of
rime) khor ( sun ) may be read khar ( ass ) by poetical
licence.
Note, khor is a contracted form of ‘sun’
and is often read khar <• ass' to cause it to rime "with words
ending in -ttt.
8 ^ •» 8 ^
-’•S To bake bread in a wooden oven
( K ^. to do a silly act ).
F. E, One can’t make war with
rose water.
T. Sweetmeat is not distributed while fighting.
j -. In youth you are ravished? in age you are weak; when
will you then worship God.^
^ <s ^
- F. He who? in this world? has bread unearned by labour?
can say fine things.
2^ -O- 2^
i 0*1^ JA T. He is
learning the lute while he is 40 years old; he will master
it in the grave. Cf. \j etc.
13
- 194 -
^' I>^ ^ pool where
there is no fish» the frog is a commander-in-chief.
c/. <r^*U etc.
E. E. ( a ) He is a Triton among the minnows. ( b ) In the
land of the blind the one-eyed are kings { Scottish }.
.. ■ * ^ E. E, Fast bind) fast find.
T. Close the door of your house? and don’t make a thief
of your neighbour.
c-1 ^ vib co-( ^ <jL> E. E. A word to the wise,
t . If there is some one in the house? a single word is enough.
O wUC*a \j <iL> Same as b cr->>- etc.
?S8 <3-
7
t_Al c.»»l J ^jr Same as
^\i <; u* etc.
U* ^.^(^psa <>l^ F, I. £)o not oversleep in the
house? and you will not have to rush on the way.
^ o
T. In the house of the ant dew
IS a deluge ( i. e, A slight loss is a great one to a
poor man ).
Note. Awir-vtoczzi, the poet, has j «
in which, insteail of “dew”, is given “drop of water”.
sC* « tSs
^Same as etc.
^1 p J tree moved
from one place to another, it would suffer neither by the
saw nor hy the axe. {Stressing the benefits of travelling),
U nearly synonymous meaning
oppression . ®
T. It is the tree laden with fruit at
which stones arc thrown ( /. e, Jf you are too wise or rich,
“ 195 -
too much will he expected of you ).
jy ^,>1 b ^ F. T. (The
fool thought ) ** If the tree that hears walnuts is so higi
on what size of tree would melons grow?’’
Notes. ( 1 ) which means “walnut( s )”> is in
modern, colloquial Persian { 2 ) the first words
of the Az a ?h or the Call to Prayer, means literally “ God
is great . But it is often used as an exclamation meanina
Good Heavens ! ”
lS8 -0- 2^
J'*' tree of indolence hears
the fruit of blasphemy. Cf. c*r^ y j) etc.
a*.i U><> jax, T. The tree of bdellium will
hear neither dates nor peaches.
F. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
fruitful branch is nearest the ground.
r. The more a tree is laden with fruit , the more it
bends down.
J^ote. This colloquial pvb. has been versified by
as follows:
J> jm JIJU ^^ ajT
^ r. a tree which has grown
in a crooked way will not become straight. ( Pfeely ) As
the twig is bent , so grows the tree. { Referring to the
importance of good training ) .
2^ -O' 2^
Note under :>jjm joL.
( Same as j.> etc. )
Sf^ 2^
iJUj-ffcAT' jM ^Sj k.Aib 1^ F. T. When one is in
pain , he should reveal it. ( Lit. ) One should carry the
pain on his head and shout.
^ -t> sC«
- 196 -
your trouble to tho?c who
know trouble.
E, He jests at scars who has never had a wound.
Note. The original P. has ‘ pain ’ and ‘painful
or afflicted ’ .
F. T. One can shut the town gate» but not people’s mouths.
Cf. ^ oljj.5 etc.
E- E. A jar’s mouth may be stopped^ a man’s cannot.
E. E. ( a ) Sickness cometh on horse¬
back i but goes away on foot, (b) Agues come on horseback
but go away on foot.. (c) Misfortunes come on wings
and depart on foot.
F. T, Illness ( lit. pain ) » when it comes is as big as a
mountain ? but goes away hair by hair.
Notes. ( 1 ) A variant form of this pvb. is
/. e. It comes by kharvsifs ( 1 kharv^r =
300 kilogrammes) » and goes away by ^f^esghskl$ {1 mesghal =
5 grammes ) . (2)1 have also heard people Say
<Sy^ where the repetition in each case gives
an adverbial sense to the word.
J*^ ^' Each man’s grievance ( lit,
pain ) is in his own heart ( i. c. No one knows the sorrows
or afflictions of another ) .
^ See Note under
I «.> etc,
o
? 0-1 (4:?.)) 1>X4>^^1^ c-f A> jt, F. r. Though the
larder is open, xve expect the cat to be modest enough to
Slay outside. ( Cited in cases when freedom and generosity
are abused). Ct, 3L ^
Note. ,S^.i is ii small earthen pot.
e - ^ ^
• ‘^-4. E. £. { a ) What quarter is the wind
- 197 -
in? ( B ) Which way does the cat jump?
which heel does the door turn?
Note, The more usual form in which the above in¬
terrogative sentence is used is ^ jo
Or etc.
ji\ F, T. In winter heat is better than
meat ( or lit, flames are better than food ),
Note, is a dish of rice? chopped meat* vegetables,
and spices.
8^ * 8^
In winter any a rag is more
welcome than a flower. Cf, the ’preceding entry
. . It 13 best to combine harshness and gentleness! indeed
the bloodletter both lets blood and applies a bandage.
Note, is an ointment and < is the agent from
the verb ‘ to lay or apply
8^8 -tJ- 8^
j%^ ^ • In the land of the
blind shut your eyes.
E. E, ( Same as for t 5 >i; etc. )
Co-I In the land of the blind the
one-reyed are kings {Scottish).
8S? -0- 8^
C-.( p,A j^aiVU OiU jUtjii oy ^£j:, T. In a
city where the farrier is a dentist, the pack-saddle-maker
is a tailor.
F. T. Empty vessels make the
most noise.
8^ 2^
E,. E. (a) Nothing is so easy as
revenge! nothing so grand as forgiveness. ( b ) An injury
forgiven is better than an injury revenged ( Danish ). ( c )
The noblest vengeance is to forgive.
^ * E‘ The pleasure resulting from forgiveness is far greater
198 -
to
than that derived from revenge.
( J ij^J^ P. ^ • Mind your
deeds ( /. s. strive to do good deeds)? and wear what you will.
£. E. It is not the habit that makes the monk.
liA:> P. Do not look at ( people’s)
faults? for God ( only ) is perfect.
{[ JiiU ) jlf jCi F. T. No need
consult the stars before doing a good act. ( Sec
explahied on page 44 )
b ^ F, l, Xo fight with a ship’s
captain and remain in the ship. ( Indicating silliness and
imprudence }.
t jrjC ^ J) j\L
' Nothing but submission and resignation for one who
is in the claws of a fierce lion.
F^ofe, ( 1 ) ojI^sc,^ qj. means bloodthirsty,
( 2 ) This verse is often cited to serve as an equivalent of
the E. pvb. “ No use striving against Fate.”
3^2 < 5 -
^ ^ 4r I\ T , See under etc,
sjg sOs
/ . / . There is no disputing about analogies
or proveibs ( /. One should not take offence when an
analogy is made or a proverl) is cited ),
kS-^ ^ JCi E, E. As a n an sows so shall
he reap.
of Time? you will reap what you have
sown.
<i c.-( 4) C.-I /•-. T, It {or he) is
like (he most,ue’s door, which is too sacred to be pulled
out or burnt. ( S„id of a child or other near kinsman, whose
behaviour, however bad it may be, must, of necessity, be
- 199 -
tolerated).
Nole, Another form of this pvh. is
( The door of a mosque may neither he pulled
nor Burnt.
out
2^ O 3^
4xdj P.T. Though the
mosque is open> we expect the dog to he ashamed of en¬
tering it. Cl, o-ljU etc.
Note, The dog> Being considered an unclean animal,
i? not allowed to enter a sacred place.
C ) C-.I j.a- a_-*i ^
E. E. (a) The darkest hour is just before the dawn, (b) After
night comes the dawn, (c) Every cloud has a silver lining.
^ ‘ '^here is much hope in despair i the dark night ends
in dawn.
3^ <5- 3^
C-iJ l\ T, One can
shut the town gate , hut not the mouth of an enemy,
P. E. A jar’s mouth may he stopped j a man’s cannot.
Same as }\ etc.
Same as etc.
3^ <3- 3^
T. The liar is the enemy of God.
E. c. Liars should have good memories.
^ . The liar has a had memory.
^ <i’_p
{ki-*--) <i2d j\ <) E. T. a lie
with a good ohject is Better than a truth told to do mis¬
chief. Cf. the E. A white lie , which means “ a small ,
harmless lie ”
lor iiLi- E. E. Every cock
on his own dunghill.
t , Every Beggar is a king in his own house.
crows
•o^
- 200 -
{ \S Be humble and
sociable) as a dervish j it matters not if you wear a Tartar
hat. See Note appended to the next entry,
B. (a) It is not the cowl that makes the friar, (b) It is
not the habit that makes the monk.
C 3 C-.)I jm iS" jtt, F. T. Wherever
night overtakes the dervish) he is at home ( e. An easy¬
going person can live in any place) however humble it may be).
Note. is used in various senses. Those repre¬
sented by the hemistich in the preceding entry are “ soci¬
able and humble” . Generally ) means a poor man. In
the present hemistich > however » it has been used in its
vulgar sensei i. e. “easy-going”.
iS^Same as etc.
< 3 -
(Jiu^i L ) CA.) <^lb E. E. It >g a long lane
that has no turning.
t. The door will not always turn ( or remain ) on the
same heel) . Cf.
C 3 lai- j <r C.-J ^Sj-' gs* F. T. There is
no heart {lit. head ) in which there is no divine secret.
etc,
' P. T. The sea is never defiled
if a dog drinks of its water.
Note. meanS) according to
nially unclean > and i as
em rites) ceremo-
j ® matter of fact ) when a dog
un s of some water, it renders the remaining portion
of the water unclean , but there is a limitation to this ,
which docs not apply to the vast extent of the sea-water.
, . ^
o h /•. I.. It is a useless effort to try
to measure sea-water by a pint-pot. Cf. JX Uja
' n ^ ^ O’
fT ^ When you
have no door , you need not a doorkeeper.
-201 -
jliS 4r-0U:» C-J E. E. (a) God never closed one
gap that He did not open another. ( b ) Where one door
shuts } another opens.
Fortune has not closed one door except when it has
opened another. Cf. ^ |-u etc,
J=!^ F. r. The thief leaves the
poor man’s house discomfited (Lit. ashamed) .
I jOL T. The thief wants a market in con¬
fusion. (Applied to any case when disturbances give an op-
portunity for irregular actions}. Cf. -cC^ Ij '->T etc
^ote. The E. proverbial phrase to fish in troubled
waters should be adapted so as to find an E. E. for the
P pvb.
Be a thief) if you like* but do
not give up manliness.
Jijto F. T. When thieves rob one
another? the last in the series has a sorry plight.
ji J ^b- aJ:, F. T. Here is the thief, and here the goat
( >■ e. the evidence ). { This means that since the parties
to a dispute are both present the truth of the case can be
easily ascertained ).
^ote Sometimes this is expanded to read 3 ^ a'JA
The thief) the goat) and the judge are
present.
u n
^ T. A wise thief puts out first
the lamp in the house.
Note, which originally means “ to kill ” , has
come to mean) in literary styles ) “to put out ” (a lamp) )
or “ to extinguish ” ( a fire ) . But in modern P. we use
0^^ £qj. these senses.
8 ^ <}• 8 ^
jKiJbjISUjb h a:;a F. r. Thieves ,as all fellow-
workers j know one another.
- 202 -
wCO (a) Where there’s a will > there’s
a way. (b) When you have a desire to do anything > your
feet are light. ( c ) Nothing is hard to the willing mind,
(d) Nothing is easy to the unwilling,
P. P. If only a thief has a mind to steal.
^ There is honour
among thieves.
i . When a thief meets another thief j he steals his own
club. Cf. ^j ! j <.1
wW P. It is a Stupid thief who will rob
the stable “loft ( or straw -rick ) .
P. T. A thief is as a king as long as he
has not been caught {or proved guilty) . P'f. the next pvb,
( c.«l ) ->• cK <x9
P. 7 . While the thief is not caught he is a king i
When he is caught you will find him weeping.
^ o ^
oU Vif J jy^ ^ • The thief goes
away in one direction ? but the owner of the stolen goods
goes out in a thousand directions. ( This means ( 1 ) that
the owner searches in numerous places? and (2) that sus¬
picions regarding the tliief arc directed to many places}.
Cf, btC jU etc.
Si j\ s^m Si j^ \ 4r P. L. If the thief is to
come late during the night > let him come when the night
is young ( /. e. Whatever had fortune is in store ? let
it come immediately ( or What will happen later on ?
happen right away ) .
P. E. That wliich may fall out at any time may fall out
to - day.
P, ^ . The thief who steals the
nimble-footed Nassini is a real thief.
Note, Nasshn was a legendary picket — guare
- 203 -
and spy who accompanied Alexander in his campaigns.
T. There is many a hand ) which is
above another hand.
E. E. (a) Every rogue is at length outrogued. (b) The fox
is very cunning > but he is more cunning that catches him
( Spannish ) .
2^ -O'
E, E. One good turn deserves another.
T, One hand is entrusted to another.
<) c jAmJ E. T. Having one’s hand in another’s
table and directing one’s fist at the host’s forehead ( K c.
ungrateful to salt eaten with another) .
EJote, A variant fo rn» of this pvb. replaces o by
•US' which means in the bowl or dish ” .
p,
E. T, Where the question of spending
comes in? professions of love go out (i//. leave the gale) .
3^ * O
C-*il h ) E, T. An unskilled hand
means a beggar’s bowl.
Note. or means a ladle.
iZZLmiZ E. T. If your hand is greasy* rub it
on your own head (/. Tak« care of yourself* if you can*
I do not need your care or help ) .
. the E. Physician > heal thyself.
*-> ^ wl-A /•'. T. Where you
have no access to the lady * make the best of {iit. save)
the maid in the kitchen.
Note. I have seen in E. “If you can kiss the mistress*
never kiss the maid” * which is not in fact tlie contrary
in view of the condition stipulated.
sC? <3- 2^
^-T >li <C-1 p- >-ra-jruJ " / . Where you can’t
obtain omelette * put up witli the plain boiled rice .
(Ereely) Where you can’t get butter? put up with dry bread.
- 204 -
Notes, (1) The P. omelette ( ) has no milk in
it) but has instead certain vegetables > and one kind of it
is served with boiled ricei hence the use of the word
which means dry > i. e. unserved with omelette. (2) y
is apparently a provincial and contracted form of J-r*
/. “Swallow”) and) in any case) serves as a rime for y y ,
ciPossession is nine points of the law.
T, The hand of possession is strong.
P. T. The empty-handed are disgraced.
{Lil.) The empty hand ( and ) the black face.
fcAib P. T. Denial is always high-handed.
Cf, etc.
I E. E. Hands off. Don’t meddle with it.
T. Let the ass’s hand be short ( of reaching such and such
a thing ),
^ c.*-^ See Note under etc.
< 3 - 3 ^
« A
I
J
latter
B) B
^ P, 1. The ( receiving ) hand recognizes
the ( giving ) hand, ( Strict honesty requires us to give
back anytliing received by us to the very person from
whose hand we have received it
^ ^ . Wiien One hand washes the other hand) the
in tuin washes the face. ( If A shows kindness to
must not only show a mutual kindnesS) but may extend
to C the kindness shown by A}.
3^^ aSs
( P. 1. The shopkeeper’s hand is disliked
by the customer ( i. e. Whatever the seller selects for sale
to his customer is considered by the latter to be of an
inferior quality ).
Note, A variant form substitutes “ tradesman ”
for
-205-
r. The hand that gives will not he
humiliated ( /. Charitable persons will never be inferior
to others ).
Note, As a matter of fact the position of the giving
hand is always superior to that of the receiving hand) for
which reason the Arabs have called the former JU ( the
upper hand ) ) and the latter the lower hand ).
Therefore) ( inferior )) as used in the pvb.) can be
taken both literally and figuratively.
O T, Not to know one’s right hand
from one’s left hand.
T. May his right hand be under our
head ( May we have the same good fortune as he ).
Note. (1) The pronouns in this the P. phrase may be
changed 50 as to suit all persons. (2)The phrase is often used
as a prayer for the recovery of a sick person. For exam¬
ple ^ i means “ May our patient
have the same good fortune as you ( May he recover
as you did ) ”.
To place the hand of refusal on
some one’s breast ( /. €. to refuse to grant his request ).
T*' The hand of force {of the mighty hand ) is up.
Cf. the E, Might is right.
OmI E, E. His fingers are lime twigs.
T, H is hand is crooked.
sSr o ^8
jKj P. T. a brok en arm
is more useful than a broken heart.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
^ P. T, a broken arm is a nuisance
to the neck ( because of the sling ). ( More freely ) The
- 206 -
neck bears ( or should bear ) the burden of the broken
arm. (This means that we are usually forced to tolerate
the behaviour? though undesirable? of our relations? or to
assist them financially if they are poor}.
He has a lucky touch ( if he is
the first one to give you anything on a certain day? it is
likely that you will receive more of the same thing from
others ) .
jP. T. The hand cannot do what the
heart does ( K ,Real assistance comes from the heart? or
one must do a thing for you willingly).
Nole, This is sometimes expanded to read Jj jIT' c—j
->* 5" J-=» ^ J addition being “ but the
heart can do what is done by the hand’\
c**-! See Note under etc,
P. ^ . Clap your hands? it is
no use to cry over what has been stolen. Cf. ^
etc, and the E, pvb. Since the house is on fire? let us
warm our feet.
T. To dip some one’s hand in henna
( i. c, to put liim in a fix from which he cannot free him-
se If ? involve him in a difficulty ).
wUCjo jIT ^
San/e as ^J''\ ^
Ui J ftlT 95^ U> E. T, The dates are on the
paint) and our hands are too short to reach them. ( Cited
in similar cases ).
serv ices
o ^
/^ T, Nobody is ungrateful to him for his
or kindness.
Notes, (1) Other pronouns
so as to make it applicable to a
may be used in this phrase
11 persons. ( 2 ) ^ which
“207
iTieans salt? is to be seen in some adjectivesi such as
“ grateful > and in the proverbial phrase >
Ot*^ q. V.
i::**-! Ol^ 6^wT l_) 1^ tjiJj J F. T, He has
washed his hands and face with the same water that dead
bodies are washed with ( F He is very impudent ).
No^e. ^ is a person who is employed to wash the
body of the dead before its burial? and is the
place where this is done.
^ F. To let the bouquet drift
on water ( /, to spoil an affair so that it gives a much
feared result ).
( The following anecdote is either the source of this
phrase? or has later been fabricated on its basis } ;
“ A certain man was notorious for the unlucky or in¬
auspicious influence of his interference in any affair. For
example? his arrival in a wedding-party would turn it into
a mourning? and he would throw a wet blanket? against his
intention? over any meeting in which he appeared.
Such was the evil effect of his presence anywhere
that on one occasion when there was a wedding-party in the
house of one of his relatives? he was not invited to the
party? and the ill-starred man? not wishing to disturb the
enjoyment of the guests? remained at home? and con¬
tented himself with sending some flowers to the newly-mar¬
ried couple as a present. This he did by tying the flowers
into a bouquet and letting it drift down the stream? which
ran between his house and that in which the wedding was.
Hut when the bouquet reached the intended destina¬
tion? two small children? who were playing about? saw it
floating on the water? and each tried to pick it in antici¬
pation of the other. Unfortunately? however? the children?
in their struggle to recover the bouquet? both fell into the
stream? and were carried away by the torrent? while the
guests were making merry In an hour or so the wedding
was changed to a mourning when the dead bodies of the
unhappy children were brought home by those who had
- 208 -
found them in a neighbouring village. Thereafter it was
discovered that the tragic event had been due to the un¬
lucky touch of the man who’ had tied the bouquet.’’ ^
The phrase is usually cited in such form as
oAiy. wT ^ i. e. In the long run he will spoil the af-
fair» or will involve us in a difficulty.
^ jub ^ c^****^ Same as etc.
<}■ sS
<) ©(^ 0* 3^ ^After my
hand has been cut off» what matters if it is eaten by the
dog or by the cat? ( This is applicable to similar cases* for
example* stolen goods }.
^j*> ^mulct is claimed fora
hand that is cut off by the governor ( who himself is the
executor of the law ).
Notes, ( 1 ) ( blood ) stands for o'jl* ( blood-
money ) . ( 2 ) Some substitute —the exact word for
mulct—for 0^
Though the enemy
is strong* the Guardian ( /. e. God ) is stronger.
8^ ^
c^3^ T. Enemies turn friends while
in prison.
85? o 3^
: Juf45^ T, Enemies
are of three categories: the enemy ( proper )* the enemy of
one’s friend* and the friend of one’s enemy.
^ o ^
C wViilj j 3 r T. What can one’s
enemy do when one’s Friend ( i, e, God ) is kind ?
C^*»3^ A) Better a wise enemy than a fool¬
ish friend.
Note, The first hemistich to this is L
It
is advisable to make friends with the wise.
- 209 -
^1 fj L*J ^1 > *-A* I
p, T. The peacock’s enemy is its feathers many a king has
perished because of his pomp and splendour. {Fur animals
have the same fate? they are hunted for their furi so a
man’s riches may be a cause of his ruin? and even liis
learning or intelligence) if envied by others}.
E. E. A man’s wealth is his enemy,
<5 J E. E. Though thy enemy seem
a mouse) yet watch him like a lion.
T. The enemy cannot be disregarded on grounds of his
weakness. See also under c-iT
^ a> Oil) ^ F. T. Do not
underestimate your enemy) however humble he may seem.
8 ^ * 8 ^
E. T- . Pray for the
death of your father) for there are many other teachers.
C From the anecdote of the teacher who) on hearing a pu~
pil say) “ May the teacher die ! ” gave him this reply,
meaning that) if his father remained alivei he would send
him to another school.
Note^ The variant . . . . Lilj ^ U.> which means
“ Pray for the death of the alphabet . . . , is not so very
attractive.
8^ * jCt
^ jm E, T, The subject of dispute
was Molla’s quilt. ( From the iollowing anecdote };
One night Molla-Nassreddin, while in bed, heard
an uproar outside his house. In his curiosity to see what
was going on he wrapped himself up in his quilt and went
out to the street) where he found a number of people braw¬
ling in their drunken state. But when the crowd saw Mol lay
they robbed him of his quilt and ran away. Feeling unable
to pursue them) ^tlolla came back home, and on being
asked by his wife what the cause of the uproar was,
said) “The subject of dispute was my quilt, which) when
carried away, caused the uproar to quiet down . ”
14
- 210 -
Cf. tke E. expfcsswn “ Bone of contention**,
No^e, This proverbial phrase is now often used when
a person or his property falls a victim to the plot or sham
quarrel of other people.
Lof y JU T, The shop is yours ? but don’t
pick. ( Referring to an empty compliment) .
Note, The idiom means to pilfer or pick
a small quantity of eatables at a shop with no intention
to pay for it,
H' ^ Vj F. T. o my heart ,
get the habit of solitude j for it is company that causes
trouble.
Notes. (1) It is almost impossible to render the part
of th is phrase > containing the pun based on the word
which) at the same time? means “ alone ** and “ bodies or
persons” . (2) ^ means a calamity. (3) When an Iranian
poet says » “ O my heart (Vj) ” > he is usually addressing
his fellow-beings.
O V,5 •^. BarberS) when
they have nothing to do ? shave one another’s heads.
Cf. the E. expression To take a busman’s holiday.
J*** ^ ^ ‘ To learn to shave on
a fool’s {lit. bald man’s ) head.
E. E. To take a leap in the dark s take the
plunge i run the hazard.
O-f jS\^ C.-JU E%\
liearts by kindness is as good as the
Note, c—a. Jj means “
wishes ) Or to humour liini. **
To win other people’s
Pilgrimage to Mecca,
to gratify some one’s
oU Jwi) E. E. (a) Heart speaks to heart,
of nature makes tlie whole world kin.
^ . One man’s heart has a way to another’s
(b) One touch
man’s heart.
- 211 -
No^e. This may well he called a telepathy bet¬
ween hearts.
c-.( (^i> «i_r jij o-ii)
-t. If sweet beauties do not assume a sour countenance ?
those who make professions of love to them will think
they are Sweetmeat. ( Said in jest in defence of a beauty
who is not sociable or conversable} and as a caution against
extreme sociability or familiarity ) .
Nofe. A variant replaces by ^ which means
“ covetousness ” .
/‘J .OU JA (,ni> Ja F. T. There is
no heart without sorrow in our present world » if there
were any j it would be inhuman.
^ F. r. He needs not fear poverty
who is spiritually rich ( f/7. rich in heart) .
2 ^ * 2 ^
J F. T. To annoy one’s
friends is to gratify the wishes of one’s enemies.
2 ^ - B - 3 ^
^ ^ 6Ji5 F. T. One’s heart is
not a table-cloth that could be spread {or unfolded) before
any one (/. e. One cannot unbosom oneself) or relieve one’s
feelingS) before every one ) .
2^1 * 2^2
T. His heart has no shelf (or niche) . {This
means that he is too frank to hide any matter inIJhis heart} .
O-^j^. ^ F. T. The heart of a
down-hearted person should be removed from his chest.
(Tf. Jj etc.
<t ^
F. T. When one’s conscience is
clear) one’s tongue is without fear. (Lit, When the heart
is pure > the tongue is fearless ). C*. *1 SL ^L-». <ri^T etc.
jLtS" F. T, I am worse off
- 212 -
than a dog> though I flatter myflelf that I am a princess.
Notes. (1) or is a Turkish title of a lord or
prince. (2) A variant form of this pvb. is >:-l
jX- ^ jX y i, e. I flatter myself that I am
the prince’s attendant » but> having a hungry belly? I feel
like a dog.
jLsmJ jJlc J,i f*. ^. When one’s heart does not desire
somethings there are plenty of excuses for refusing it.
JuLcJ ol:> ( T. The bucket does not
•4 #« y
always come safely out of the well.
ll. B. A pitcher that goes oft to the well is broken at last.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces by
the colloquial form of the word.
wf JUCaa eF. r. The mean glutton
keeps away from the table » as does the harlot from the
bed. (Ironical in both cases) .
Note, -rt* is usually rendered “ to sulk ” ? or
to break off relations
45* F. T, The heart loves as it chooses.
F. E. Love is blind.
Notes. (1) here means “to attract”. (2) Some¬
times the citers of this pvb. add to it> rather humorously?
J.r <r c—^1 /. e. It is like a mortar-board which
carries mortar ( lit. mud ) .
{ ^ Where shall
I seek a sorrowless heart ? for I find none in the world.
Cf. etc.
Same as !j etc.
F. The fox’s tail is a nuisance to him.
( He is hunted on account of its highly esteemed tail ) .
Cf. etc.
E. E. A man’s wealth is his enemy.
- 213 -
^ A T ^ The fox’s witness is its tail. See
etc.
. . . . 1) C^j* The camel’s tail will reach the
ground by the time , . , ( It will be ages before . . . ,
or one will have given up hope by the time such and
such a result is obtained ) .
^ j F T. Let us make the most of the present
moment.
^. 29 j J ^iJrjjT h (j^) r. To put one’s tail on
one s back and go away { i. e, to go away without saying
a word > after being put to shame or convinced ) .
j^i (^cU F. T. To live wit
sorrow even for an instant is not worth the whole world.
<) Ut,i To the wise an instant is
better than Time itself (lit, the world. ) .
P, T, A happy moment is worth
a lifetime.
^ 2 ^ < 3 -
<J^ E. E, (a) To set the fox to watch the geese.
To Set the goat to watch the cabbage.
i . To entrust the fat (tail) to the wolf.
To sharpen (or set ) one’s teeth ( /. e. to
covet anything > also> to prepare for revenge) .
For the first of the above two meanings
^ would be the clearer expression.
^ o ^
To take one’s liver between
one s teeth (/. e. to be forbearing under hard circumstances i
also » to grin and bear ) .
Ij F. I, To extract one’s covetous
( i. e, cease to covet, or be greedy for, something) .
tooth
- 214 -
E. E, To find ( or know ) the length
of one’s foot » also > know all about him » also ? not pay
the least attention to him after having ascertained his
inefficiency ) .
Note. The verb in the phrase under treatment usually
occurs in the perfect tense. For example » one would
say , 0-1 tt Such a one has counted my
teeth > /. he knows the length of my foot j or he knows
all about me ” .
^ A loose tooth must be pulled out.
E. E. Better to have it out than be always aching.
Note. A variant form substitutes ^ IJ
an aching tooth ” for ^ a loose tooth”.
J jZm \j F. T. His rib was broken
by the camel > while the ass indemnified him for the in -
jury (/. One did the damage i another had to pay) .
^E. E, That serves him right !
F. T. Let ( or may ) his ribs be bruised.
cr*'-* T- It is the world’s property that
makes life precious ( or dear ) .
^' How strange the
ways of the world are i the blind laughs at the bald !
E. E. [Same as for etc.)
Notes, {1) «-i-3 jg jj short form of '^•*'1 in colloquial
Persian > and is a vulgar form of O* which means “ art 1
trick 7 knack > etc. ” 7 but which ? by extension > means
also “ form ” the sense in which it is here used .
See the pi
form of
o
f o* ( 2 )
is a colloquial
3 ^
C— E. E, I'ools have the best luck.
E. I . The world gratifies the fools {or The world is as
fools wish it to be ) .
- 215 -
^ After we are gone out
of this worldj what matters if it is changed (o a sea or to
a mirage. C'. y Lt j|
E. E, When we are gonej let happen what may.
^ ^ ^ The world is a place
of trial by ordeal > not of ease.
E>. Life is a battle ? not a feast.
* 2^
C^) U,5 T, The world is not empty ( /. e. After all
there are to be found also good men in the world) .
2^ tJ 2^
oldt^A E. 'i . The world is a place where every
one receives the outcome of his act, Cf^ oUisC. ;i etc,
E. E. As a man sows so shall he reap.
tJ- 2^
r. The world does not always remain
in the same condition {OT The world is changeable).
E. E, Fortune is fickle.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
fcA) .^1 .9 Lj^
^ ^ *** *■*
E. The world fosters mean people.
2^2 -O 2^
E. T. Better to see the world
than merely to consume the world’s goods.
Note. This pvh. has also occurred in the following
foim . cumI .ji <0 He who has seen
the world is better off than he who has ... .
O E. T. Even though all the
world were deep in water i he would be deep in slumber.
Note. The pvb. also begins with i
2^ 2^2
E, 1. . Take things as they come.
( ^^' ) The world will be {oT pass by) as you take it.
E. E. Take it easy.
I . • - • 4)! * 48
^ ^ 7 , The world is a farm of futurity
- 216 -
{ t. c. What one sows in this world he will reap in the
next ) . *^*"1 & , 9 ^ oVi^^ jl
O ^
( t^-u- jJ U^ F. T. To cause a single
man to be distressed is not worth the whole world.
^ o ^
Jj The world has a thousand faces (/.
takes numerous shapes) .
E. F, Fortune is fickle.
3CS <3* 3^
jk)U-cjj1 .9^J <X^ 4 iJb See Note under ^^
F, T. A single country cannot
be ruled by two kings. also under etc.
Note, means “ to be contained
H T, To put both feet
in one shoe ( i. c. to persist in one’s opinion ).
Note, Uehkhodek explains this as to be importunate”.
<s
^ximj <r oi jias** ^ <r\j ir
I . In placing the two leaves of a door side by side they
require them to sympathize with ( or look after ) each other.
is?"
( S Two things are
against common sense: to be silent when one should speak*
and to speak when one should be silent.
^ . It is the thick log that makes the
smoke. (Old people make the most trouble).
E, E, To burn the midnight lamp ( or oil ).
^ . To inhale the smoke coming from an oil lamp.
3^ -n- 3Ss
O vib F. 7 . When two hearts be¬
come one they can pull down a mountain.
E. E, Union is strength.
- 217 -
CmmI P,T. Two 5 per cent profits
are Letter than one ten per cent, ( Commercial principle of
rapid turnover ).
J P- 1- Those
far away are virtually present if they are well-informed,
while those who are near are virtually far away if they
lack foresight.
The nearer to Church? the farther from grace.
tiiT 1^ jiX y Jj^ p T. Sleep away from the
camel) and yo^ will not have disturbed dreams.
Cf, 1^ etc.
P. T, Do away with the bee
before it stings you. Cf, c^c.
^ P. E. (a) Absence makes the heart grow fond.
( b ) We are best loved furthest off. ( c ) Friends agree
but at a distance. ( d ) Hedges between keep friendship
green.
. . Remoteness and friendship.
c. E, A friend in need is a friend in deed.
P^ P. A friend is he who gives a helping hand to his friend
in distress.
^ c.-jT
>C4 <2ij u§ j J^b \j <)U <r<i
E. 'l. A real friend is like a looking-glass? who shows your
faults? not like a comb? which? with a thousand tongues?
tells them behind your back to a hair.
^•E. (b) There is no better looking-glass than an old
friend ( who is frank in telling you your faults ). ( b ) The
best mirror is an old friend ( Spannish ).
1 ) The above is the form in which Deh-
khod^ presents this exquisite stanza? but I have also seen
il in the following form:
- 218 -
juy* jjjj <iJT t jjb <r c—
<dj jm 0-t>
to which I give preference on account of the fact that the
word in the first hemistich has been used in two ways.
( 2 ) It is very difficult to produce an exact rendering of
this poetry in English in view of the “poetical congruity’**
therein contained) which is based on the words looking-
glass) comb) and hair
P. T. He is your friend who speaks the truth to you
( frankly )) not who takes your falsehood to be true.
jofjupc) <„rc—) t P.T. A friend
brings you to tearS) while an enemy causes you to laugh.
(Stressing the value of frankness) which a friend is required
to possess). Cf. the preceding entry,
tyL
wti) Ia) o jiittt r* bXy (
F. T. F'riends prove to be useful ( or helpful ) in prison')
for at table even enemies seem friends. Cf. ol et C,
wU.l» 3 :> j\ j7^\ F. Faithful ( Of constant )
friends are better than kinsmen.
Note. The first hemistich to this is cJla) 1 jA
.... <jr j i. c. Drive me not hence because
1 am a stranger) for . . . d\ It is the word for (<^) which)
when standing at tlie beginning of the second hemistich)
makes it regular) and without it the verse would be lame.
^ o ^
P. T. A friend will remember
me even with an empty cardamom. ( Meaning that a gift
from a friend) however small it may bc) is valuable inas¬
much as it is a token of friendship ).
Note, I Jiave also frecjuently heard c—
wherein means “ roee-leaf ”,
Ihis is the term used by the late Professor Browne
for the figure of speech called in P. oUl^-.
-2I9-
( J-3^ ) OiiU -UP juU F. T.
not take offence at each other’s acts.
Friends should
i-J T, Everybody’s friend is
nobody’s friend.
3^ -O'
Caa-^Ci F. T. It is advis.ible to make
friends with wise men.
Note, The second hemistich to this is jl <; L:Uo*^j
jbb, vvhich see on page 208. ( From the versified
story by Mowlavi of the man who contracted friendship
with a bear. One day when the man was asleep, the bear
saw a fly walking on his face. In a desire to drive away
the fly from his friend’s face, the stupid animal
fetched a very large stone and threw it at his face,
which resulted in his death ) . Thus, even real friendship,
when combined with ignorance, may prove harmful.
See and the E, E. given therefor.
-?L) F. T. Vt'e are quits on ac¬
count of our mutual friendship, but you must give barley
1 e3cchan^e or apricots, ( Rare pvb. }
F, ( Same as for etc )
ij-- '-T' P- T. Friendship
without motive is possible, but enmity without provocation
is impossible.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
Ol-P- T, The friendship of Aunt Bear ( /. e.
foolish and harmful friendship ). See the story connected
with w—Ulo ^
F. F. The ape claspeth her young so long that at last she
killeth them.
sZfjMt jl F. T. In the guise of
friendship they take your skin off.
- 220 -
) ai jDU <r jiiLij S)jl t ^
F. T, After a life’s search one finds a friend*
Should one in a moment Such friend offend?
SSS * 2^
JcK^^ P. T, Two swords cannot
be contained in a single scabbard. Cf. etc,
^ o ^
ot of viA*) <*> A-.) F. T. Two-hundred “ Well
dones ” have less effect than a single “ Fie
( 3 r^J O*^ wU^ F. T. Two-hundred
words do not amount to half a deed. {See the first
hemistich to this on page 67 }.
E, E. ( a ) Action speaks louder than words. ( b ) Saying
and doing are two things. ( c ) Deeds not words,
^ o ^
J> <r jAi F, T, A thousand
pounds of bones are needed to carry five-hundred pounds
of load. ( Cited in similar cases }.
Note, One n/afJ is approximately equal to 3 kilo¬
grammes.
sCs * O
vil*j l\ 7 . Two-hundred refusals to ac¬
cept have not the force of one refusal to give.
Note, (*•*>! ujnj mean “I do not wish ” and
‘‘ I do not give ” respectively.
own house is too
own property ). Cf.
Not e, ^j.> is
k ) <)L> F, The doogh in one’s
t *
sour \i. One usually despises one’s
<. etc,
cliurned sour milk.
th
J? 7 . Cliurned sour milk and syrup of grapes
are the same.
t\ote. This is usually cited in an interrogative or
exclamatory tone and in detiance of those who are void
of discernment.
-a- 2 ^
^ 4 ,^ • 7 . Two gulps and a half are Still
- 221 -
remaining. { Said when a person expresses dissatisfaction or
ingratitude for what he has received or eaten }, ( from
the following traditional ^necdotey.
King Solomon once invited all the animals living at
his time to a banquet. A monstrous fish or whale, thrust¬
ing its head out of the water? asked to be given its portion
of the victuals? but the more it was fed? the more it desired
to eat? until all that had been prepared for the remaining
guests was consumed? and yet the greedy monster would
not be filled.
Astonished at the stupendous appetite of the creature?
the king inquired as to the amount of the daily food with
which it was ordinarily satisfied? to which the monster
replied? “ My daily food consists of three gulps ( or mor¬
sels )? and all I have eaten so far makes half a morsel?
I am waiting? therefore? for the remaining two and a half
morsels
sjg iJ- 2^
j \ 45^1 ja A j F. T. Two men toiled
with no result? and their effort was lost labour: the first
was he who amassed ( wealth ) and enjoyed it not? and th
other was he who acquired learning? but practised it noi
E. A man that keeps riches and enjoys them not is lik
an ass that carries gold and eats thistles.
.3
1. When Fortune takes an assisting attitude? the ant can
become Solomon. ( More freely ) Fortune may promote a
beggar to a king.
Note, The idiom Ij • - . means “to betake
oneself to ”
{ ci-u- ) ^Ci <r^ cib jUjLv cJJa F. T. He who has
a good name has everlasting riches. ( Lit. ) He who lived
with a good reputation found everlasting riches.
E. E.( a) A good name is better than riches. ( b ) Good men
must die? but death cannot kill their names.
-222 -
Fortune ( of wealth ) is not
won by personal effort.
c**-l It is six of one and a half a dozen
of the other.
Note. One kbarvaf equals 100 mans or approximately
300 kilogrammes. But kharVaf means literally “ an ass’s
load”, half of which is called lengehy elsewhere trans¬
lated “ bale
juU.iji JJa See Note under etc.
wVH^Pt) ^ ^
F. 7 . There never came out of a hole two snakes, of which
one could sing Turkish, and the other Persian ( /. The
children of the same parents are more or less equal ).
ykti 7 . Two kernels in one shell (^. extremely
united and friendly ).
( J-l ^ \S^OjLe» J>
( ) wU jJi F. T. Ten men will eat at one table,
whereas two dogs cannot agree over a piece of carrion.
F. E. Two cats and a mouse,
Two wives in one house,
Two dogs and a bone.
Do not agree in one.
C.*-^ ©^^^Ci O ©^ 7 . God has not created
tlie ten fingers alike. Cf, ^ etc.
^ O ^
F. 7 . A ruined village is not liable to
tax. Cf. o'^.j 31 etc.
j\ T. The village is ( only )
good for the headman of tlie village and his brother.
Note, A variant, but less common, form of this pvb.
is IJ ^^ *^1 J cT't' ^ I i.j 'I *.5
^ O ^
- 223 -
( -'•S -?.» -9 ^ri-9JA o^
. Ten dervishes may sleep on a single carpet) but two
kings cannot reign in the same country.
E. E. Two stars keep not their motion in the same sphere!
nor can England brook a double reign of Harry Persy and
the Prince of Wales.
Notes. ( 1 ) ^ js a short-napped carpet. ( 2 )
is an archaic form of . ( 3 ) is an A. word of
Greek origin meaning “clime or climate”. It has also been
used in the sense of a “continent” or “region”.
^ r. To beat the kettledrum under the carpet
w’ conceal what is manifest or notorious ).
Ij I etc.
With the village in sight)
you ask) ‘How far is it ?” An unnecessary question}.
aiU ^*3 p open mouth will have its
daily portion ( /. e. Human beingsj who depend on Provi¬
dence for their daily bread) are sure to have it ) , Cf.
iSjjj ^^ etc.
(<5 } <> F. T' Better to stop the dog’s
mouth with a morsel.
B. E. Cast a bone in the devil’s teeth) and he will save you.
C--I JU <<1^ r. The dog’s mouth is always open
( ^. ^. A slanderous person will always slander ).
2 ^ * 0 - 3 ^
^*^^**^*^ ( a ) His mother’s milk is scarce
out of his nose yet. ( b ) He smells of mother’s milk.
T. His mouth smells of milk.
J He has a loose tongue. ( b ) He
is foul-mouthed.
E. i. His mouth has no fastening.
Note. The word means “ a rent or slit ”> and
has been used in the adjective which means
- 224 -
“ foul-mouthed Howeven to say that one’s mouth has
no fastening is more reasonable than to say it has no slit.
O f under etc,
< 3 * 2 ^
4x3 JT T, The opening of his
pocket has been covered up by spider’s web ( i. e. He is
empty-handed ).
j\ To carry fine silk ( or brocade ) to Rome
( or Byzantine ).
E. E. ( Sutne us for ^jts ).
<r cusu L) j See under L. efc,
Kmj T. To meet an uncongenial
acquaintance is a hell,
^ o ^
Do not expect a blind man
to act as watchman.
^ As jAl ©JUI^
T. i . The worldly desires of the greedy man can never be
fulfilled) any more than a well can be filled with dew.
2^ ■£> Sjg
P- T. If you see me steal it? I shall
say) It was for a joke”) but if you don’t) what I take
will be a Godsend.
*
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
where means “ ( in ) earnest ”.
^ o ^
^ ^ ^• Slow to become sociable) and quick
to take offence.
2^ 2S?
^ tS ^ P- ^ ■ Come later if you want) but be
sure to come.
i'. E. (a) Better late than never. ( b ) Make haste slowly.
T . - , , ^
vC** ^ (.S • F. T. Come late> if you want, but come as
- 225 -
a lion ( /. e, without fail ).
Notes, ( 1 ) The P. phrase is susceptible of gram¬
matical changes) for example? we may say*^ I j I
i, e. Such a one came late? etc. (2) It is chiefly for riming
purposes that the word has been used here? otherwise?
to express the idea of “ coming without fail ” by the use
of the word “ lion ” does not seem to me very suitable.
3 3 F, T, Yesterday and the
day before yesterday are gonei the true day? therefore? is
to-day.
oOx P,T, A pot which has been tried in cooking.
Note. ,sji^ is a small earthen pot in which broth and
the like are cooked? and? since those who use such pots
tell us that the new ones are not suitable for cooking
purposes) the phrase has come to mean metaphorically?
though jocularly? a fully-matured woman? who has proved
after some years to be a good wife.
? ^,3^3^F. T. You have been applying
the ladle all night? but where is the halvo^ (/. e.sweetmeat)
See the explanation given for etc.
3^ 35?
oL- aJj U&.S E.E. (a) The pot calls the
kettle black. ( b ) Said the kettle to the pan?
^^Stand aside? black man
T, A pot says to another pot? ** Your face is black”.
Note. -U- means also “ Shame on you!”
3> * 25?
rii-'Kt* ^ E. E. He who
plants a walnut tree expects not to eat of the fruit.
F. T. Others planted the tree? and we ate of its fruiti it is
now our turn to plant it? so that others may eat of its fruit.
{From the following anecdote']:
A certain king once passed by a very old man who
was planting a young walnut tree. Being told by the king
that his effort was a lost labour because the tree would
15
- 228 -
C-1 jLlto P. T. Even the madman is sen¬
sible about his own affairs.
lAJ 1 T, One madman is pleased
to see another.
O $
«Ay jji\ ^ Ar’4> A madman is always better
chained.
3 ^ * 8 ^
UL-> <0 Better a demon
with a cheerful face than a scowling fairy.
Notes, ( 1 ) A variant form gives t, e. ‘<good-
natured ” for . ( 2 ) literally means
“ knitting ( Of having knitted ) one's brow."
( ) Jiio *jr ^ 1-5
P- T. What has not partaken of existence can never impart
existence to other things.
hiote. There is a sort of pun on the word which in
the first hemistich^ means “ share or part ’% and in the
second hemistich is a contraction of used as part of
the compound adjective ‘ capable of imparting
existence \
ojb Look before you leap.
Do not cut the cloth before you have measured it.
Note^ which is about 41 inches has now been
replaced by ^ tnetf<i ‘metre’? which is about 40 inches?
and means to measure by the zat"*.
0.^3 ^. ( a ) Many a pickle makes a
mickle. ( b ) Drop by drop fills the tub. ( c ) Drop by
drop the lake is drained, ( d ) Feather by feather the goose
is plucked. etc.
L. Particle by particle the wool is woven into a carpet.
Note. The second hemistich to this is •ji
^ ■
Little by little the house becomes empty.
lT F. T. Mentioning a pleasure is half
the enjoyment.
Note. Th is is apparently a P, form of the A.
q, V.
a'/jT JTi F. T. Mentioning a past indignation
creates a new one.
” 230 -
^The master of one art prevails
over the master of arts.
E. E, Jack of all trades? and master of none.
Note. The contemporary poet? Iraj, has versified this
as follows;
<i j oV*; Cr* OJJ* Ojt
/. e. Since little and good is better than much and bad? the
master of one art is better off than the master of arts.
J
T. Perfect ease is impossible) nothing so pure that it does
not become sullied.
E. E, No joy without alloy.
$ * ^8
^£6^1^ <Cita;^ jU U J\j F. T. As far as possible
do not tell your secret to your friend.
Note. In a passage of Golesteny the famous book of
Sa*di‘i the reason given for this is that one’s friend may
turn an enemy.
J vU It is the worst of faults
to divulge the secrets of others.
P- • Truth on your part and help
on God’s.
p. r. If you are true? you arc saved.
Cf.
lAiU ^JjoX> 1 . Tell not a truth which resem¬
bles a lie.
E. E. Avoid the appearance of evil.
{i5***-) jd
E. T. Truth wins the approval of Godi I have never seen
a man lost who followed the straight way.
Piote, The beauty of the P. lies in the use of
“ straight ” or “ honest ” and of derived from same?
which means “ straightness ” or “ honesty ”.
-232
carry a grasshopper’s
leg to King Solomon.
E. E. ( Same as for ).
85? -t> 8^
E, The narrator ( of the tradition ) is a Sunnite.
Note, Since the Shiites do not rely on the Sunnites
insofar as the narration of the Prophet’s traditions are con¬
cerned) the phrase) which is assumed do have been said by a
Shiite) meanS) You cannot rely on the truth of such and
such a rumour
85? 85?
The road is nar¬
row) the night is dark? and the destination is far.
35 s * 8^
C^' 2. The road is entrusted to the road-
guard.
25? *0 85?
0 ^ ^' Those .who have been
plundered have no fear of ( robbers in ) a road.
85? o 85?
T. There is only one true way?
but there are a thousand false ones.
85? <}• 85?
C****l^*t T. A road on which robbery has happened
is Safe.
85 ? * 85 ?
E, 7 , The road has been crossed by
running) and the runner’s shoes have been torn. ( Said when
a useless effort has been made }.
85 ? 85 ?
\j olj E. E. ( a ) To meet one’s end, ( b ) To go
to one’s last liome.
2 . To shorten the way.
85? o ?5?
( A. ) E. I, Tire judgment of the unhealthy is
unsound.
E, E. A sound mind in a sound body,
85 ? 85 ?
jl y A strong will acts
- 233 -
better than a sharp sword.
-tJ- sjs
0»il jjF T, The god of daily food ( for crea¬
tures ) is blind.
Note. The contemporary poet) Iraj, in his verse
says that this is a common pvb. among the Greeks.
jl ^ T. To have mercy
on the bad means to be unjust to the good.
E, E. ( a ) He hurts the good who spares the bad. ( b ) A
favour ill placed is a great waste.
Cf, €tC.
Note, A variant form gives for
F, T, May the first shroud-snatcher be
blessed. {From the following anecdote y-
The inhabitants of a certain locality complained to
the local governor that an unknown person was in the habit
of opening the graves of the newly-buried dead people and
rob them of their shrouds. The governor managed to find
the criminal? who was severely punished for the act.
Soon after another man in the locality followed in
the footsteps of the old criminal. But this man was so mean
that? in addition to the robbery? he practised disgraceful
acts on the dead bodies? the traces of which could be seen
by the public. The inhabitants? preferring naturally what
the first man had been doing with the dead? would say?
whenever they remembered his act? <*May the first shroud-
snatcher be blessed
Notes, ( 1 ) The pvb. is cited when after a bad fate
one meets with a worse one. ( 2 ) Some people say?
Jj\ /. e, A hundred blessings to the first shroud-
sratcher.
sC? * 3^
mpassion is laudable
even on the part of an unbeliever.
Note. A common variant replaces by which
means “ if
- 234 -
f J C^J One cannot wash
the clothes of two sisters-in-law in the same tub. ( They
are usually each other’s ri\rals or enemies).
Note, Here “ sister-in-law ” means the wife of the
brother of one’s husband.
(J jub F, T, It is Rakbsh which Rost am
needs to mount on, Cf, cj* etc.
Note. Rost am is the name of the famous hero of
Shuhng^meh-i the epic poetry and legendary history of Iran
by Ferdowsit and Rakhsh is the name of the hero’s horse.
^' The Creator will ( of may ) accept
what His creatures reject.
T- > Rejection by an enemy is accep¬
tance by a friend.
C.-I Jac ^ue.) jtt> J:»j
. J- . Although a man’s daily bread will certainly be giver
to him? it is wise for him to seek in every direction.
F, E. ( Same as for ^y ji etc, )
<wl«l s w-t V. T. Rost am's all is a single set of
weapons. ( Meaning that it is unjust to envy, or deprive
some one of) a thing which is his sole credit or property).
See Note under etc, about Rost am,
< 3 -
F. E. ( a ) Man of straw, (b) Cardboard cavalier.
F. 1. The portrait of Rost am at the entrance of a public
bath“liouse. See Note under etc.
€>a^j E, l . The unexpected guest rriust take pot-
luck ( 1ft. that wliich is available ). Cf. etc.
j JkO I E,1. Gratify the wishes
of your fiieml, and set aside those of others.
fvi } s^yj r. How can one who has
- 235 -
cfltcn dates forbid the eating of dates ? See
and the Note appended thereto,
( ) j\j p p Oleander will not
bear dates.
E. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
pr* h ^Jr^ jjSJj Ijjj T. He went to get a teard.
but lost his moustache. Cf. etc,
E, E, ( Same as for etc,)
^ 2 ^ < 3 -
Ijy Uj ji c^j F, T, Subjects ( or peasants ) become
happy if they are caied for.
Note, The resemblance between the words and
gives to the P. phrase a proverbial shape. To imitate
this in £., one might freely say, “A peasant will remain a
peasant) if for him life is made pleasant.
(^*-^,5 O Same as 3
etc,
35? 8^
sZSj F, r, The attempt to earn bread?
cost him his head. Cf, ^y»>U
Note, or has also been used to
mean “ to be driven to extremities ”,
^ ^^nie as viy etc,
{}■
‘Ub> <m \j <)l:> 4iU- F, T, J went to
my aunt’s to be relieved of my mood? but she went to
sleep and I got more depressed.
Note, Olj jg g colloquial form of >1; and is a
contraction of
^ J E. 7 . Better to travel
by slow stages than hurry forward and fall exhausted.
. 35? -O 4?
^.iThat which is destined to go will goi that which is
- 236 -
destined to come will come» and that which is destined to
happen will happenj no use worrying about them.
$ * 8 ^
0-1 ^E. E. A bad workman
quarrels with (or blames) his tool.
F. T*. The dancer who cannot dance well says the flooir is
uneven.
Note, The variant form '^-'1 ^
is rare and bookish.
0—1 U JU ^ 1.^1 have
seen the dance? and we have to pay for it. { Eft, ) She
dances for others and holds the hat before us.
Note, is a skull-cap? and in the old days a dancer
would hand his ( or her ) skull-cap round to obtain money.
uP j See under ^ 1 4^" etc.
o—^ E. E, To get the length of one’s
shoes.
F. i . To find the nerve by which a person gets to sleep.
C ) c.«l I T. Suffering! when it
becomes a habit? is ease.
C ^ ^1^ gtU F, T, Where a
serious ( or great ) business is involved? suffering should
be considered ease.
8 ^ < 1 * $
<jU> jail <r <> c-J^c ^ij See under
^;k:) l> Same as
a*.0 OiJ tj J ai) Ij oi J F. T, Chains do not change
the lewd man! nor is counsel of any avail to the prostitute.
c7. o-hir^. dT^r ;. y
a^a^j^w^i J F, 2 . The colour of
the cheek gives information of the heart’s secret.
- 237 -
(a) The heart’s letter is read in the eyes, (b) A happy
heart makes a blooming visage.
Note. A variant form substitutes ^
“ bears testimony ” ) for ^
h f>jO JljP-1 o?t» h uS j F. T, When you see my
pale face) do not inquire about my deplorable condition.
Cf, the pteceding entry.
Notes. ( 1 ) Some would replace by {Ask)^
in which case the phrase would mean “Look at my pale
face} and (then) inquire...” (2) The P. saying} which is a
regular hemistich) is often shortened to
olj J J> eXiJj T. The fox tells ano¬
ther fox) and the latter tells it to his own tail. ( A reference
to how responsibility is passed on }.
jjj Ca-if oU <S U ob F. T. While the fox is in
the well) he vows a thank-offering ( of canvas ).
F. The Devil was illr the Devil a saint would be?
The Devil was well) the Devil a saint was he.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces -ajO ju;
by which means “ distributes in charity
^ ^ F. T. It is better to sit opposite a
person than beside him,
4)1^ J.Jj Same as jj etc.
{ c-l ^»lac^U c^9«7 h F. T. Ill-assorted
companionship is a torment to the spirit
Cf. .^U:. b jU jIjjj etc.
A single loaf will satisfy bodily greed ( lit. will fill a
narrow intestine )} the whole riches of the world will not
satisfy mental greed (lit. will not fill narrow eyes ).
F. F, It is cheaper to feed one’s belly than one’s eyes ( or
- 238 -
It is easier to fill a glutton’s belly than his eye ).
Nofe, A variant form has otyr ( bread of barley )
for 0^ which means mere bread without any other food
to eat it with.
^ ^ A new day and a new portion.
Notes. ( 1 ) Although this pvb. is similar to
^-u-j q 2 ; , jg gjgQ often used to mean?
“ Let bygones be bygones ( 2 j is the daily bread
or means of subsistence that one receives from Providence.
jJj A day of hope is a long day.
C-aA P. T. Seven dinners in a day of spring.
( In the spring people have more appetite than in the
other seasons }.
Note, I believe the correct word for “ lunch *’ or
“dinner is . The word in Arabic means “ day”.
jJj F. T, On the.Ressurrection
Day the first inquiry is about one’s neighbour. (Stressing
the ties of neighbourhood }. Cf, \j <iU.*A ^ etc.
JUT
F, T. With the turn of
fortune? the mirror may come to need ashes, (Ashes are
often used for polishing mirrors ),
-a- 2^8
‘ i :>u>^ ojJj F. T. Fasting without
prayers? a bride without dowry? and preserved meat without
onions ( are all incomplete ).
^ • To observe a fast under uncertain
conditions { /. e, to do an act which is of a doubtful issue).
' •• . , ^ ^
^ ^ . I. No one will eat the daily portion
zixcu for another l>y Providence.
C-l ^MT c^M F. T. The crow has taken
control of our daily bread. ( Said in cases when a mean'or
- 239 -
stingy person is giving out supplies in scanty portions }.
^ • The guest^s portion comes in
Before him. {Hospitable and religious-minded people often
find this to be true }.
iS'iJ! i^J) ojTji F. T. If the
rustic were a lord> the bear would be Avicenna in the
mountain.
Cf, the E. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ears.
«AZC^ <f* \j F, T, If you give a
yokel too much freedomj he will raise his shoe ( and
threaten to beat you ).
E. E. Give him an inch and he will take an ell.
:>( T. A thousand lamps can be lit
from a single wick. { Cited in similar instances }.
^ ^ One can’t get blood out of a stone.
^ . Oil does not come out of a radish.
Note. I prefer dC-jl q p ,
a regular hemistich> and which is more common than the
pvb. here given.
a « ^
^ E. E. No use crying over spilt milk.
• Spilt oil cannot be gathered.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. j ^
O F. T. To vow spilt oil for the
lamp in the shrine ( /. e. to be charitable with something
which is valueless ).
j See Note under jj
etc.
F. 1 , Shamelessness
\ f. A shameless and importunate
end in obtaining what he wants ).
goes farther than force
person succeeds in the
- 240 -
{ } <s*j oJT J C-! (5^-^
^ . A beautiful face is a balm for sore hearts? and a key
to closed doors.
£. Beauty opens all doors.
Don’t desert the
highway for the short cut.
P. T. Do not leave the right road? however twisting it
may be.
4rj ju> <p<r jSbj
^Sj ! 4r”c;*<»fc> ( ^P. P. Xhe true wayfarer is
not he who goes sometimes fast and sometimes slowly?but
he who goes slowly and steadily,
E. E. ( a ) Slow and steadj wins the race. ( b ) Slow but
sure. Cf.
& o ^
P. T. One cannot walk with other
people’s feet ( /. One must stand on one’s own feet ),
c.-»U^ P. T, Good management is impossible
without punishment ( or Directorship is. . . . ),
j F. T, The rope is burnt? but
has not lost its twist. Cf, etC‘
E. £. ( a ) Habit is second nature. ( b ) Can the leopard
change his spots ?
25s <2- 8^
<-r^ . . . . ^) 2 *^^ ^U- F. T. The beard of the man who
covets in vain other people’s properties will be in the hands
of the poor man. ( Meaning that a poor man is better off
than a covetous man? or else comes in possession of what
the covetous man fails to obtain }.
of c^ P)6hk.hocji\ has w—*■< / p 4 L ?
ll*l^ cT , I. e, in the poor man s
pocket.
35 ^ ^
J.IJ T. A long beard
foolishness.
Note, Some substitute for 31 Jj
is a sign of
and
some say
-241 -
adding “and a small head”, in which case
the plural “are” would be used.
(w)ls-Tji F. T. His beard has not been
whitened in the mill (/. e. He has taken pains and obtained
ejcperience ) .
Note. This phrase is susceptible of grammatical
changes » for example » one could say f JiS U j
a«AM “ My beard.”
* iS
sjrl^ To lose one’s beard for the sake
of possessing a moustache. Cf. etc.
c-Ui c-jT. F. The beard and the scissors
are both in your hands (/. €, I am at your mercy or wholly
in your power ) .
( 1 ) To have something up one’s
sleeve. ( 2 ) To have a sly meaning.
T. To have a aand ( of pebble ) in one’s shoe.
16
{ ^Uii ^ f.T. A little pool
produces small fish.
^ iJ 8^
^^-s>w ^4«:*«, ji^j^ j |aO
Jj ^7^ rrk ^ •• •• »
'". J. The oftspring of Khosrow tore his father’s breast >
And Darius’ side was slabbed by his friend best.
C Cited in similar cases }
Note, Kbosfow , a king of the Sassanide Dynasty j
was killed by his own son ) Shirooyeh, and Darius III, was
murdered by two of his intimate companions 9 who were
afterwards killed for their tros-cherous act by Alexander
the Great, with whom Darius was fighting.
r. The offspring of a cruel man becomes
a tyrant.
Note. is actually nothing more than the P.
equivalent of the A. uord
tJ'
v.eib ^jL, <,jj T leopard does not fear
the bark of I he fox.
Q o lO^
T"” aiU <C*-r j\ 4; P. T. Better to be
N r" m * longue which is not under control.
<< A , l>'eral meaning of the first hemistich is
person, whose tongue has been cut off, and who sits in
a corner - deaf and dumb ”
I -11 . • - o iSs
P -C' '■ is « watchman for the head.
li. t. ( Sao.e «.r ^ 1:3 etc. )
- 243 -
Notf. A variant form of this pvi>. is 0^"^
^ /. e. The tongue in one’s mouth ....
^ The tongu c is the hearths interpreter.
S> O $
T, The tongue has a soft seat. (It is
easy to talk but difficult to carry out what is said } .
wWf^ The ass “driver understands his
ass’s tongue ( /, c. People of the same level understand
each other ) .
Note, ( khalaj ) is a native of ( khala-
jest^u ) > a district near Gho m,
c-( F. T. The people’s tongue {of voice)
is the scourge of God {/. e. Bad reputation is a punishment
for one s evil acts). Gf, the I^at, pvb. Vox populi vox Dei.
U ^' A Sweet tongue
( /. e. soft words ) will draw a snake from its ‘ hole.
{ Gentle means are always best ) . Cf. trj*- o'jj ^ etc.
■>* P- T. The tongue turns
whichever way you turn it (/. e. It is easy to talk).
c-l otj
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is ^ jLj
/. e. The tongue is made of flesh. . . ,
jtn E. E, ( 1 ) The tongue talks at
the head’s cost. (2) The unruly tongue endangers the whole
body.
P. J . The red tongue leads the green head to destruction.
-a 3^
iS^^, ^ His tongue plays with his head
{ His words endanger his life ) ,
olaJU P- T. The tongue is not liable to taxation
( As people pay no tolls for talking i it may some -
times be worth while to say something ) .
- 244 -
Talking pays no^ (©^11,
kXI>f^ Birds know each other’s language
( /.*^. {people )of the 'San^eiievel underatandfeach-^lheT ) .
<p. ^.atgi j F. T. If ^Id is to^Jje.pu-t
away > what is the-^difference between it and ‘St-one ? (From
the versified anecdote by Sa'^di of the miser’s son who j
ffndingMhe place where his'father used to .bury his/amassed
wealth? once managed to ^unearth it ^and substitute a stone
for it. When the miser asked his son why he had so he-
'haved ? the latter said-? “If gold ( /. e. money) is to be
stored away? what is the difference between it and stone ? )
j*\ P, T. Taking care of the svok is worse
'than sickness itself.
No/e. The poet Nezami adds to this hemistich the
verb ‘^"1 ( is ) .
f\ T. Eat of the fruit of your tiadea
and you wifi ^always have something to eat. Cf,-zS^yj\ eAc,
o C
^ 0^*“* E. B. A blow with a word
slrikes.deeper than -a ^blow ^with a sword,
* . ^ The spear strikes the body? the tongue.afflicts-the soul.
Note, There are other variants;forithis*pvh. > amongst
them —^3 eU, , and w-l yo,
^ o
T ^ 6JiA
l. Heaven Odve UJ from the eye ana the heart. i®r
whatever the former sees the latter fancies. Cf. the pvh.
I •*'/* admire, the heart will not desire .
tvhtch IS of Ital/ati OTtgiPi
. Gold can be got from a mine by excaviting ? but
emnot be got fiom the miser even when he is on the
point of death.
^0 2 ^
-24S-
Gold- will-sofCen even steel.
£. E, Mtoney makes the mare go.
-t} $ *
vi^pcA ^\ F. T, Pure gold does not fear the
tovchstone.
E. E, {Same for as ^1 Si etc. and eJL y ePc. )
P- , To spend money and' only'obtain
worry. Cf, <iJ^v etc.
^ <s
.S ^'j jI)' F\ T, Gr^ild hes. many
friends > but he who possesses it has many enemies^
i> <»• o
E.E. Money begets-money.
F. Gold draws ( or attracts ) gold. Cf. b J^, j>i etc.
Note, jj occursand may ha,vo been derived
from? the following verse by Nezafni>. -
^ jjjj,-iT ^ OiJIil 3
i
/. e. I heard from the old assayers of coins that in; this
world gold attracts gold ? and one treasure*'trove draws
another.
* 8^
F. T. Money spent in love **
making does not return to one’s pocket (/. e. is t wasted) .
sCt o-
iS)/ jJf jj T. The money does the work? and the-
man does the boasting,
{^ "^0 vi*<**t jj F. T. Gold ( Of money )
is a touchstone by which the* ilirnatured are'tested.
836 O
w&p- eUi^b^^ <)Jj j F. T. The untried lion will
shrink before the fox.
Note, 1: originally means “ who has not seen
(-or- been* experienced im) war ” .
^ o ^
J^.ilb. <r* P. r. Pure gold does not
worry about the test Cf. Sl j} etc.
- 246 -
{ >> ^ decent to
give And try to take back. Cf, the E. To give with one
hand and take back with the other.
(OyU j crij) JoU J^'J F, T. A hundred fingers
will not do what one head does.
Note, The second hemistich to this is *->1^ jl c
jji- t, e. Nor can three - hundred stars do the work
of a sun.
i J 'F, Of a hundred arrows one hits
the mark.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces -c* by
which means “ the shaft of an arrow ” .
( ,} jB ^ * (3^ ^ ^' '^kere are
thousands of miles between love and patience. Cf, the E.
There is a vast difference between an old woman and a
princess.
Note^ The E. pvb. is a fit parallel for the P. pvb. »
since both are cited in cases when one wishe# to lay stress
on the great difference between any two things? though
Sa'^ai was originally dealing with love and patience? which
are incompatible,
T. A cold is the mother of all diseases.
Note. ( 1 ) ftrj properly means a cold in the head ?
a coryza. (2) is the A. word for “ mother. ”
<>l^ ^ • F. The tithe payable on an
egg would be only a cotton-seed.
Note, 1 which is sometimes spelled ? is
properly a poor - rate or alms? as prescribed by Islam.
^ F. Ser vice from inferiors? favour
from superiors.
-Note. This is derived from the Shahnunieh ? whcre-
the last word is 31^ — a contraction of
- 247 -
C li'**-} j J-2C ^si_> jvfi:; Ji:>
F, T. The ringlet? of beauties are fetters for the feet of
reason) and snares for wise birds.
o -a- ❖
( 4swfciP'^Uj E. E. ( a ) What is past is past,
(b) Let bygones be bygones.
^ F. T, The world of
to^ay is such that every person is absorbed in his own cares.
jL*) 4)^6.^ jki U <>U.^ F. F. If the times do not fit
you) fit yourself unto them.
J <jUM 4)toJ? T, The world is a fosterer of mean people.
(Same as ) .
L<*!^ ^ F. T, A single night may end winter*
and a single attack of fever may end an old person.
Note, Dehkhoda connects the idea of cold with
that of old age* explaining this saying to be a caution for
old persons against catching cold in winter.
03 U Jlcj. The winter is gone > and
now the face of the coal remains black ( with shame ) .
(This amounts originally to saying* ^‘Although we were not
helped with coal during the winter* we managed to outlive
the season* and now the cold - in this case he who had it
but refused to give it—will bear the shame ” } .
! (ji) T. The earth was solid ( Of hard ) *
and the heavens were far (^. No remedy whatever could
be imagined ) .
C J
F. T. Hyacinth will not grow in brackish ground * waste
not therein the seed of effort. (Sf. Oy>j etc.
E. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
2> o s:?
^ F. T. Though
- 248 -
- f *
yoil' leave no stone anturned i God will not increese your
daily‘portion, ) Even if you sew the earth and. the
heavens together ».) .
^ Ji> OiMl U ^ E\ E, DoitU fear the worst
until you see the worst.
T. Why do you fear the evil which has not (yet) come ?
C***l 4iJ,l T, The woman is the mirror of her husband.
JUjljU ccO li ^
E. T, Rely not on the bastard i for the Ethiopian will not
become white by washing.
.E,B^ ( a ) Crows arc never the whiter for washing * them¬
selves. (b) You cannot wash, a blackamoor''white.
231 * 23e
^^O-^ E. 'E, Women‘ redden their
faces by paintings and men by fighting (i. e, by weltering
in their blood ) .
No/e. The pseudo - etyuology of the similar words
* jU it Q|. paint ” and war gives a proverbial
shape to this saying.
ji wA>b ^j'E, T. The woman should come
to her husband^s house in a veil •> and leave in a winding*
sheet Cf, -L-jjU. L etc. and See explanation of
on page 69.
23 k O 232
i-tiiT*(j Jj F, 7 . An unchaste woman
will be unchaste, even if confined in a glass vessel.
23k O 23?
(J) 7. Woman is a plague i
yet may no house be without such a plague !
Note. This has been versified as follows:
aibM)
23 k O O
•a) E. T. Said the hornet to the serpent) “Show yourself
when I bite j and I will show myself when you bite •
- 249 -
(Meaning that the serpent is only notorious for having
a deadly poison > while it is the dreaded name of the
reptile which is really fatal } .
P. T. Say to the ruthless
hornet » “Though you do not give honeyi at least do not
sting .
M\J J Mjy U' /•'. T. A won an is a
Sweetheart before she has a babyi and a mother after she
has had one (/ e. Women are to be honoured at whatever
st-ge of life they may be ) .
( 0" T. One’s wife is like a strarnrer before
she has had a baby.
m the side of a young woman is better than an old husband
by her side.
j>A> P- P- When man and wife
agree > confound the judge .'
-1 <1a^ T, A shrew is a dog uncontrolled
i>y a collar.
^ ^ ^ F. 7. A shrew rules her husband
( or wears the trousers ) .
A shrew is her man’s husband.
P‘ P‘ When a woman
attains the age of twenty ) her condition is to be deploitd
(Old-fashioned) but incorrect) belief that a woman
her beauty at that age ) .
a^s 2^
P. T. Iron is corroded by
the very thing to which it gives birth j that is rust.
( Cited - in similar cases} .
ij-T J»U ^.iJLscf o-jj 4) 45«j <r F. r. when
- 250 -
.jlj dJljU 3 etc, )
i^ote. This is part of a verse by Fetdowst » which
begins with 3 q, v,
sfit * iS*
c^\ jijm^
to marry an unchaste
5^ It easy
woman} but difficult to keep her.
^^fju ^ F, No wife no worry. (Freely) No wife
no strife.
{ jtb F. E. Better dwell with
a dragon than with a wicked woman.
F, T. Both women and dragons'are better under the earth.
r" ,$ F. T, When a man and
his wife quarrel} only fools believe (that they are really
quarrelling ) .
W.-1 <r F, r. It is a shame to put
one to shame by c.ivilling.
^ o ^
C :> ^s-0 h A'ji Sj:^ j
P. T. Straightness ( i. e. uprightness or truth) conies from
strength} while falsehood and faults come from weakness.
^' A woman who has no
dowry has ( or should have ) no airs.
C.-*^ E, E. Might is right.
F. T. If you have more power} your words prevail.
^LoU \j Jjj F, T, Might tramples on right.
E. E, Might is right.
^^’**"1 -^^5? F, T. Ten men’s
strength is not worth one man's money.
o o
F. T, He cannot prevail
over the ass } so he takes hold of the pack - saddle.
-2S1-
Cf. jA. etc.
E. E. Since he cannot be revenged on the assi he falls on
the pack - saddle.
P.r might is inj reckoning is out
E. B. niight is right.
Note, stands also for or
which means a reasonable j tenable > or logical remark.
eOJLo 'E, He has rubbed oil on his teeth
( He is abusive or foul - mouthed )
--f^VL( <r kSJp P. T. No matter from
which side men are killed) it is to the benefit of Islam.
(If A and B are both enemies of C) the latter is benefited
by the losses of either A or B ) .
•>' .oli:* T. A loss in season is
better than a profit out of season.
Jj Jjf f.T. The earCh is his
carpet and the sky his quilt.
E' E, He is sky - clad ( /. e, very poor )
-O' tjs
C 1 JjJ ^5^ JJ} Jb- Jb- jijj
E, The plight of an ant under you foot ) if you do not
know it ) is like yours under the fcot o, an elephant.
Note. A variant form gives t. e. if you realize it.
-O 2^
E, E. There are wheels within wheels.
. There is a half-size bowl under the large one.
tSt O' ^
E. E, To carry coals to Newcastle.
T. To carry caraway - seeds to Kerman,
O 2^
j\ E‘ E, To bell the cat.
E. To saddle the wolf.
The ornament of politeness
is better than riches (///. than the attempt to obtain gold).
$ <r" \j jjjjbi F, T. Let us drink to-day i
O cupbearer’) for no one knows what to-morrow wilt btin^,
iSt -o $
ji-? > See Notes under y Jl- <C: etc.
-o O
T ■ T
c-l foH c-t^Ci <r'K- F. T. A good year i? forecast
1
by its spring.
F. F. (d) A good beginning augurs welV for'an undertaking,
(b) Coming events cast their shadows before.
? O F. T. The rain is'not to
1)1 a me if grass cannot grow oji a rock, C(. e'tc,
F. E. Figs do not grow on thistles,
^ o
^ \S-^^ ‘ You cannot make graBS
grow on ice by labour. Cl, the preceding entry,.
F. E, ( Same as for the preceding )
^ <t t3i
j;.^\ ^ F. T. The camel) when in passion?
finds its load lighter.
3^ -O
^ ( Same as etc. save
that here Jt- ^‘pitcher” replaces >*-5 “bucket”) .
C L# 1 ^***'*^ 4f
^ pitcher which has had a hole since it was made will
not be mended by wax and glue. ( A holo in an earthen
pitcher is often stopped by wax or glue^ .
To grea&e some' one^s palra^
1. To grease some one’s moustache.
- 253 -
4 ^*“^ F, T, Gratitude will entitle
you to kindness.
■8^ O 8^8
i, Mj:, J F. T. While one has
had bad luck in gambling , one’s wife gives birth to a
baby >‘and one “has to entertain a dear guest
F. E. When sorrows con.e> they-come not single spies, but
in batUlions.
I believe w—i— jg.g combination of ‘^three”
and n impure or bad ” , and refers to the three bones
thrown'together in.the game of knuckle-bones, when they
all appear on the :giound in such a position as to cause the
gambler to lose. In other words
* 4
or
means
three unlucky throws ( or bones ) ” .
8^ O ^
F, T. To the tyiant tyranny
IS just and right.
{ } <) a«cl T. A kicking beast is best
heavily loaded.
w-K---)T F. T. Who kno«s what the
pregnant night will bring forth at <dawn
£ E. No one knows what the future will bring forth.
No/.e. The first hemistich to this is J
* I * * * - ”
Cr-JJ The dcceitfulness of the world is a story
well - known to all.
\y ,4lf U . iKi
trv jt'
F. T. Be an early riser and your
wishes will be gratified.
F. c. J(,a ) £arly lo bed and early to rise
Mtikes a man healthy , wealthy, and wise.
( b ) The early bird catches the worn s.
( c ) Early birds pick up the crumbs.
F, T, Do not be generous till you
have paid off your debts.
i F, 7, He who strikes a hard blow is
- 254 -
apt lo receive one. C/. the E. As you 50w> BO you shall reap..
[liiU) The world
will be hard upon those who do not take it easy.
jA iiJT^P^ P. T. Speech is a mirror which shows
what the speaker is ^tc.
^ j\ See and t^\^.
jT\ P. T. Speech is gold > but
silence is jewels. Cf. the E. Silence is gold.
jljuT T. speech is more precious
than a lustrous jewel.
P^ote. The second hemistich to this > which is
^ <CU ^
qualifies the remark since it says» ‘‘When it is used in its
proper place. ”
^ o ^
t < ^
<x-ij 1,^5 ^ • Keep silent till you are asked
to speak.
E. E. Speak when you are spoken to,
t iS-^ ) <lAr^5^ OaP ^ ^ ^:;^***
P. T. As long as a thing is unsaid > you can always say it i
but once said? it cannot be recalled.
E. E. ( a ) Words once spoken cannot be recalled. ( b ) A
word Spoken is an arrow let fly,
^ o ^
E. I . Speech is hidden until it is uttered* once uttered* it
becomes common talk.
^ o
\ jm ^ . The tale-bearer is
a friend of tlie Devil and tlic enemy of mankind.
^ o ^
‘3 4 * 5 *“'^^O^*** T. The only ornament for
speech is truth.
-2S5-
SattlB as ^Iji'^ j\ \j c—1 j O
^8 ■»
CM*»f Same as c—i ^juii
^ ts
c.-»* C.5j^ gx*j F. T. To listen to advice is the
root ( Of foundation ) of fortune.
Note. also means “ obedience ” .
Speech that comes from the
heart goes to the heart.
Note. which is usually translated “ agreeable
or pleasant”, literally means “accepted ly the heart”.
wUiU vJ^ f Speech gives witness to the
speaker’s character. Cf. I Cr^- e^c.
2^8 * O
P. 7 . Fair words aie ravishing to the
heart ( Ift. hunt hearts ) .
2^8 * 3^8
0 ? 6 *- p. T. As you speak , go
> t>u will hear. C . As you sow , so you shall reap.
O O 2^8
^'^Tr " ^ wiT a> l_J
. f . Words that cannot be said before a company must
not be said in concealment.
Chilli eMro^l )jm F. r. Given the head, one
can always find the hat.
2^
\j^ oJS j) jM E. E. Dead men tell no tales.
7 . A head cut off from its body makes no noise.
2^ -O O
7'. Troubles are at an end when two
are quits.
^ <y ^
t.X*CA) jM E, E, Don’t wash your
dirty linen in public.
one s head is l)r(*kfn , let if be in one’s hat , and
it one s arm is broken , let it be in one’s sleeve.
-256 -
Jiti AS Tiie innocent, head
may go unto iHe scaffold* l>ut will never go on to it.
Male, is properly * the gallows’* its oiigmal -sense
being ‘ a tree ’ .
! .Jto ^ estentation!
l^ot'CS. (1) ^ which originally nreans a battlefield
or arena* is used nowadays for an open space where j.uggloxs
display their art^ or dervishes amuse people *hy story-telling*
etc * and the verb denoting such an action is *S'^
( 2 ) The pvb. is an exclamatory remark made when an
old man does something which > being unsuitable to his age
makes a great noise abroad.
C—The first point in manliness
( Of generosity ) is truth.
P. P. Every one seeks his mate.
Note. also means a spouse or contort.
^ o
C^-^1 JH ^ ^ Js?
l\ i . One can dam up the source with a spade* but cannot
cross the stream in full flow on an elephant.
Cf. the E. pvb. A stitch in time Saves nine.
j*^ P‘ ^ • He feels a heavy head on
his shoulders.
E. E. The gallows groans for him.
^ ^ • -His head is worth his hat ( /. ■€.
He is an influential man ) .
vZ***'^ P. T. Without there is
rivalry among her suitors* but within she is cheerless and
depressed.
* ** f_ t
• • • > ^ j*^ P. T. I do not want
“ 257 -
you to pray for my sonh it suffices for me if you do not
defile my grave.
* $
* ^ bald head and a skull-cap! ( /. e.
such a head does not befit such a cap-cited in similar cases).
* * $
CM.J ^ F, T. The re are those who
live on scanty means* but there is no one who is deprived
of his daily bread. ( More freely ) There are many without
much* but none without any.
* 80s
C-* j
'f'• A small head and a
long beard are signs of foolishness. Cf, 3bj etc.
80s -O'
( } QJ J j\ oj J j\ <rj^
P.T. A meal of leek and vinegar from the labour of one’s
hands is better than one of bread and meat given by the
headman of the village.
SSS <3- 80s
C.^1 AS* T, Vinegar obtained free of cost
is sweeter than honey.
i02 80?
‘t—J wt^i E, E, (a) a bird in the hand is
worth two in the bush. ( b ) A sparrow in hand is worth
a pheasant that flieth by. (c) Never leave certainty for hope.
T. Ready vinegar is better than promised sweetmeat.
Note, A commoner variant replaces by “ a
slap on the face* or a box on the ear”* which is a proverbial
exaggeration* but “ vinegar ” surely goes better with
“ sweetmeat ” on account of the contrast.
3 ^ * 8 ^
^The ox’s head is caught in the
jar (/. e. The affair is'entangled by difficulties or A delicate
situation has been created ).
{ From the anecdote of the ox which thrust its head in a
large earthen jar to drink water* but was unable to bring
17
- 258 -
' it out* because its horns were stuck inside the jar • ).
^ * 0 - 3^2 '
F. T. The wolf should be beheaded at the very outsetj
not after it has devoured the whole flock. etc,
E, E, ( Saf? 2 e as for etc. )
\j^ jOa) U ^jm E, E. No use striving against Fate.
F. r. Behold our heads and the disposition of Providence.
^ o ^
C—JO F. T. Use your enemy’s hand
to strike a serpent’s head.
E. E. It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your
enemy’s hand.
3^ O-
y trademan’s head*
but do not cut down his fixed prices.
*5 ^ ^ true man will forfeit his
head rather than his word.
ts
{S)j^ joljj^ \j Ajbjm F. T, He can take the collyrium
from inside your eyelid ( /. e. He is very clever at stealing^
he is light-fingered ).
^ o ^
^ ■j\ ^ (jjili j-> W) jm F.T. Pipers
were scarcei so another has arr ived from Scotland. {IfOttfCal'}
Note. is a wind instrument of the oboe class?
and those who play such an instrument are mostly from
<^\J ( GhaffiChecJagh )> a district in North Azarbajija^^
* The story goes that the headman of the village where
th is happened) on being asked to find a solution? advised
the owner of the ox to have the animal beheaded? so that
its head might be cleared of the jar. After the OX had
been killed? the situation in regard to its head was no
better? and the foolish advisor had to recommend the
breaking of the jar.
- 259 -
now called { Arasbsifdin ).
^_/** (^) To put the cart before the
horse. ( b ) To get hold of the wrong end of the stick.
T. To play the oboe from the wrong end. See Note under
the preceding entry about h^
Note. For ( end ) some use ( bottom )i since
indeed the wrong end in this case is the lower end. The P.»
howeverj has “ wide ” for this sense.
sS * aSs
^ E. E. The sound of a flute to a deaf man.
T. To play the oboe for a deaf man.
^ o- ^
4r j jm See
^ o ^
C>M> bA>l) T. Why tie your head
with a handkerchief when you have no headache?
(Freely) Do not apply a remedy without need.
-^^4^ 4.5 P.T. A heart without love
is a violin without Strings.
Note. means gourde squash> or vegetable marrow?
to which a brainless head is often likened.
cJ J?- ^-) T. The man who over¬
charges deserves to have no buyers.
iS^j*** The reward of a good act is an ill
turn. ( Often used ironically or interrogatively }.
$ C-l Ja^ Jd Jam F. T. The lines
cannot be straight if the ruler is not straight.
jAmt T. Travelling accomplishes the raw ( or
inexperienced ). Cf. -*il; etc.
Travelling broadens the mind.
b". T. His table is always spread ( /. e.
He is in the habit of telling out his private secrets to
- 260 -
Others so as to air his grievance ).
jjbj^ ^.) S jAm F. T. A table not yet
laid raises hopes of a feast ( lit, smells like musk ).
Not€, is properly a table-cloth) and the verb
which goes with it is *>tt or cr^l***l . By extension)
however) means the food served on the table.
fcy-jC o jA-i As^ljuJ o jAm F, An unlaid
table has one fault) but after it has been laid) it has a
thousand faults. { The one fault of the unlaid table is
that it keeps guests in expectation) and the one - thousand
faults are the deficiencies of the table that may be dis¬
covered) and objected tO) by the guests}, the preceding
pvh, and the Note appended thereto,
(.AaAm 3 '^j*^
Ajji ^^ <-.r vi->-
F. T, Fair Or blonde is fair enough)
But peach-coloured I more apprise.
However) it is the dark skin
'Which after all wins the prize.
Notes. (1) “Blonde” has been roughly used here for
4* white ”) “ peach-coloured ” is supposed to mean
“red and white”) and has been rendered “dark-skinned”)
which a great many people believe is most attractive. (2) The
words and are vulgar forms of and
respectively') so the last part of the saying ineanS) “What¬
ever price you put on the dark skin) it is worth it.”(3) The
values) which have been fixed in terms of toniaf^S—novr
obsolete—could freely be changed to those based on the E.
sterling. (4) The verb “ to apprise ” is archaic) and means
“ to appraise or appreciate ”.
^ o ^
C—»1 Lipj F , T. Silence gives consent.
you some stability, for vegetable will not grow
- 261 -
on a rolling stone.
A rolling stone gathers no moss,
«•
**i 'cK 't*’CJ Vj oil »SLm E. E. It ( Of he ) comes hack
like a had penny. .
Mote. { 1 ) ‘—i'Vj is a title .of AH? Mohammed’s
successor} meaning properly “ the King ( or Prince ) of
Successorship’ j and 0 ^ 3 coin belonging to
such a great man? or to the period of his caliphate* must
not he compared to a bad penny. It must} of necessity* he
one of those coins hearing the stamp which are
minted on various occasions* such as the New Year* and
given as gifts. Therefore} it is not to he explained as a
“ had coin * hut as one which has no monetary currency.
( 2 ) The pvb. is cited when a man without capabilities or
merits is turned hack from any place where he is posted
as an employee.
^ -S' 2^
4> jOT y, f,i,y, j\ F.T. A dog is tetter than a
man-tormenting human. Cf. I o"etc.
See under etc.
bU v.^M< ^. 2 . The dog was claiming an
uncle* although it had no father.
Note, , which means “ Uncle! Uncle!”* suggests
“ howwow
See Note under <^1:^ etc.
_ 5C2 < 3 -
T. Should a dog eat of that*
it will go out to meet the wolf. { Referring to a very
unpleasant food or one which has not been properly cooked).
2^ 2^
I ) wCl —J <il£2AA
P. T, Wash a dog in the Seven Seas* and it will he still
fouler when it is wet ( or it will he all the fouler for it ).
- 262 -
E. E, An ape is an ape» a varlet’s a varlet*
Though he be clad in silk and scarlet.
2^ «■ CS
jur’<s^l E. T, You cannot entrust to
him the castration of your dog (/. He is very dishonest
and cunning ).<
(^ ^ ^o *
E, The dog is morally superior to a man who. torments
his fellow-creatures.
^ o ^
o^VlS) F, T, A dog does not hunt by means
of the gold collar it wears ( /. It is the virtue of the
hunting dog which is appreciated? not its outward apparel.
Cf, *^1 V.j (.rM <; etc, )
^ ^ <3- ijg
F, T. The greyhound? which hunts the gazelle? will? when
it gets old? be captured by a gazelle.
T. A grateful dog is
better than an ungrateful man.
<>U> F, T, Better be the dog of the
house than the meanest member. Cf, the E, Better be the
head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Notes. (1) Some say and iMrlt-* for and respec¬
tively. (2) A variant form of this pvb. is <iC-
3 ^ < 5 - 3 ^
^ • Feed your dog with
blood? and it will become blood-thirsty. Cf.
F. E. If you save a rogue from the gallows? be will rob
you that same night.
Note. The P. pvb. is taken from the following verse:
^ L 4r P1.S Jj \j ^
dC- |a;
«
I fed a dog with the blood from my own heart? in the
hope that it will become sociable with me? little knowing
that when a dog drinks blood it becomes bloodthirsty.
- 263 -
«s9 JT 4)^ F. r. To take a pup in exchange
for a hound ( lit, dog ).
t^ote. The jE. expression “ to throw a sprat to catch
a herring ( Of whale ) ” has a contrary meaning.
^^Lil uXm T. The dog and the cobbler
( only ) know what is in the sheepskin. ( Referring to a
secret known by two persons in common? and kept hidden
from others }. { From the anecdote of the cobbler who? in
an attempt to get rid of a dog which was annoying him?
put his iron mallet in a tool bag made of sheepskin? and
hit the bag on the dog’s head. The animal died after a
few minutes to the surprise of those who only saw the
bag? but not the mallet inside it. A knowledge of such
content was? therefore? possessed by the cobbler and the dog).
A variant gives “shoemaker ” for
cobbler ”.
uC- T. A dog which is present is
better than a brother who is away.
C/. JT etc.
F. T. A dog will become a grey¬
hound in this man’s house { F c. He is so stingy that does
not properly feed his dog until it becomes as lean as a
greyhound ).
E. E. ( a ) Every dog is a lion at
home. ( b ) Every cock is a lord on his his own dunghill.
( c ) A lion at home? a mouse abroad.
T. The dog is a lion in its owner’s house.
T. The dog? walking in the shadow of the wall? thought
it was its own shadow* [ Referring to self-conceited persons).
\j <r jr\ v.£m F. T. It is better to serve
a dog than an ill-set ( OY ill-natured ) person.
- 264 -
^ T. One cannot force a dog to hunt.
Cf, )j t^ 3 L- etc,
cu-»t JUii v-^ E. E. One is as bad as the other.
Cf, It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.
E, The yellow dog is the jackal’s brother.
cf, •a; Lj j»5 c et c ,
$ - 0 - 2 ^
wXm E. E, ( a ) There is honour among thieves.
( b ) One crow will not peck out another crow’s eyes. ( c )
Dog does not eat dog ( which is also the lit. tf anslatton\,
^ote. Another form of this pvb. is IJ
->jj \j / e. Dog eats dogs but will not discard
its bones.
2 ^ < 3 - 8 ^
E. T, Feed a dog to satiety s and you
will make it unruly. Cf, t53!> etc.
E. E. If you save a rogue from the gallowsi he will rob
you that same night.
('^) F. T. The dog being fullj the dish is sour.
E. E, Hunger is the best sauce. Cf, loxes? when they can~
not reach the grapes^ say they are not ripe.
Note. << ghaly eh" is a dish like fricassee.
“O- sSs
UmUm T. A dog will not recognize its owner
( ^ The place is so crowded that even a dog ....).
2 ^ - 3 -
a-# F. T. However fat the dog> they
would no put it in a pie ( lit. preserve it for food).
Notes. ( 1 ) 0^5 , which is derived from the Turkish
word may be rendered preserved meat» potted meatj
corned beef? pemmican? and the like. (2) A common variant
of this pvb. is uiU oL- the last part
part of which means “ they will not cook it in? or serve
it with? p/i
t . C VJ- - - ^ ^
* F, T, What! a mangy dog and a golden
collar. { Meaning that such a dog does not deserve to wear
-265
a golden collar. (Cited in similar cases. Cf. .
‘^dof J P- P- It best to keep a biting
dog satisfied { or friendly ). ^ ®
j J,y ^ r. The dog Larks while the caravan
passes. Cf. o^Jhl etc
,M • • - sSs O
; Barking dogs don’t bite. also
O 1 J\ etc,
2^ sS?
C-f J ^ ojU r. A bitch is a lion in its own kennel.
t,. t. ( dame as tor tiC- etc )
.*7 • . . . se*
dog of N^zUUb^d, which attacks both strangers and acquain¬
tances. (Said of ungrateful and impudent persons }.
. . hen a dog and a gatekeeper meet a stranger, the
former bites at his skirt, and the latter takes him by the
collar. ^
F. T. The dust raised by a
dog leaping on a roof has settled on us. (The word ^ “on
us , as used by those who cite this pvb , means by allusion
on him , and the pvb. refers to one who claims to be of
a noble descent, although he has a very remote relationship
With the nobility }. ^
^ O ^
_ .... . cr“ ^5^-
5 j\jszi ..JC. J (Jti ^
See Note under etc
*5 o Ids
^ The peasant who greets you “ has
an axe to grind
Notes. (1) The part of the E. translation which is
between inverted commas is the E. E. of the pvb., for the
phrase “ He has an axe to grind ” is very common in E.
- 266 -
(2) In popular usage the word is replaced by J
“a native of Loresiafi See the first pvb. on page 55.
(c—() ^oJLi 3 JU See Note under the next entry.
^ Cf ^
C—< uUiPuo Ito <A*JU E. E. ( a ) There is no disputing about
tastes. ( b ) Every man to his taste.
T. Tastes are different.
Note. A jocular variant of this saying is
Here ( sologh ) is a spurious Arabic plural of j and
has been coined to rime with <3^ { shologh )) which means
“ crowded or confused
C^l LJiT F. T. The pound of an acquaintance
is only 12 ounces ( i. 0. The shopman who knows you gives
you underweight ). (5f. 1 etc.
Note, , which literally means “ stone here
stands allusively for “ a ojie-fnan weight One
rnan^ wich is roughly equal to 3 kilogrammes* consisted
of four ( quarters ). See page 133.
T. It is the closed door which is
hit by* or receives* the stone ( i. It is he who is doomed
to be unfortunate who usually meets with misfortunes or
calamities ).
^jj J JU t 0-o.*9 F. T. If a worthless stone
breaks a golden bowl* the stone is none the more valuable?
nor is the gold depreciated.
2^ o aSs
ji) ^jji F. T. Threatening with a
( very ) large stone* one does not mean to throw it ( S, e.
High-flown intentions are not usually feasible* and exag¬
gerated threats or promises are not made in earnest ).
F. T. A stone is heavy when
in place, [ Those who move about very much or commit
-267 -
frivolous acts are not worthy of respect}.
Note, The word “ heavy ” is derived from
“ stone ’% and hence the latter word usually implies
heaviness. The beauty of the P. may perhaps be partly
preserved by saying in E. “ A stone weight is weighty
when not in motion”.
<) a«l) F, T, a stone in a
tradesman s shop is more welcome than an idle person,
t Tradesmen usually do not like idle people to sit at their
shops and watch their dealings }.
To play off; also to make a cat’s
paw of.
F. T, To cause to roll like a stone on ice.
E. E. Diamond cut diamond.
T, A stone breaking another stone.
^ o ^
E. E, To strike a blow for some one.
T, To smite one’s breast with a stone on another’s behalf.
{}■ 2 ^
T, A small stone will break
a large head. Cited in similar cases }.
(.^) ^ ^ **** T, The stone and the fruit can be ob¬
tained both free of cost. ( Referring to means and ends
which are obtainable free of cost—the stone being considered
here as the means of throwing fruits off a tree ).
Note, A variant form replaces “ fruit ” by
tt crows
T, Stone and glass, ( Proverbial for two things
which are incompatible) or which cannot go together) two
contrarieties }.
Note, /\ e, “ Stone and pitcher ” have also
been proverbialy used to express the same idea.
o ^
- 268 -
See Note under i j eiXli-
juif ^ JdU ^ ^
T. A stone thrown by a fool ( or madman ) into a well>
cannot be fished out by a hundred wise men. ( It is often
next to impossible for wise men to make good the damages
caused by fools ).
F, T, A Sunnite whose intercessor is Ofnar on the Resur¬
rection Day is like a blindman led by another.
Note, The Sunnites believe in Omar the second
successor of M,oharnmedy while the Shiites believe that
Ali was the true successor of the Prophet.
2^ -a- 2^
P. T. The man on the horseback does
not understand the pedestrian. Cf, etc,
Sjg <3- 3^
^Loim» of The question is about
the sky? and the answer deals with a rope. ( Freely ) The
question is about chalk? the answer is about cheese.
Not e. The expression commoly used is
) y the E. E. of which is “ chalk and cheese ”.
iCs o 2^
C—f E. E. All one? but their meat
must go two ways.
F. 1 . They are one save in respect of their pockets.
2^ -O 2^
T. Better burnt than raw.
2^ * 2^
<5***^^ jl ^• 23 **' Trade should be carried on by
mutual consent? and kinship should be based on cheerfulness.
Note, This pvb. occurs also in its inverted form
U»^ l-5>-
2^ <3- 2^
F, E, To build castles in the air.
Note, The P. means “ transaction ’’? and the
A. ( or rather ) has several meanings? one of which
is “ melancholy
- 269 -
^ - -mr - , iw w cjiLure
311 all-out transaction.
iJJ^<^JAj:i:iJ‘iij^E.E.{a) Bread and point (or
potetoea and point ).(!>) The miaer would skin a flint.
. . The miserly trader eats cheese from the outside of
a glass bottle ( /. e. he rubs his bread on the outside of a
bottle containing the cheese ).
•e- 3 ^
aai F. T. Cash transactions are as
pleasant as the odour of musk.
» sCt
(oijTU 1) F. T. There are
many in the world who have made no profit in their
business.
h l-c.5 E. E. To get hold of the wrong end
of the stick. [From the following anecdote byMowlavir
A man was once reciting, after having eased nature in the
water-closet, the following prayer, “ O Lord, cause me
to smell of the odour of Paradise-prayer recited
when smelling flowers-whereas he was to recite that
reserved for the occasion of washing oneself after easing
nature, which runs as follows, “ O Lotd, cause me to
rank among those who repent, and those who are pure ”.
Another man, who heard him recite the prayer con¬
nected with smelling flowers, said to him, “ The prayer
was a good one, but you have lost the prayer-hole ”,
meaning thereby that he was mistaking the lower hole,
or thea —s, for the upper ones, i. e. the nostrils.
3^2 -ft
F. T. A crooked nail for a crooked
hole.
T. No one’s feast will turn a mourning*
t. It will not make the sky fall.
C-t J ^ U F. T. The needle
provides clothing for alb while it is naked itself.
-t270-
( f ^. 1 ? J'JS-- 2 - 0 “« ““‘1
another.
F. T. A pin ( lit. needle ) is needed to bring out a thorn
•.from one’s foot.
F. r. The black beetle says to her young one* “ How nice
and white ( crystalline ) your limbs are! Cf,
jifi etc.
E. E. The owl thinks all her young ones beauties.
3^ <3- ^ _
J ^ jUscI*-! ty T oib jrtAS>- jr\ 4r C—< <-
(C.L; otj^) ^ Three things should not be underes¬
timated* however trifling they may seem: illness* debt*
and enemy.
E. E. Though thy enemy seem a mouse* yet watch him like
a lion.
^ ‘ ojU> JU : aiUijUb JiT
[c 5 -a—) j jp T. There are three things which will not
last long* unless combined with three other things: capital
without trade* learning without repeated discussion* and
the State without strict administration of justice.
Notes. (1 ) may also be rendered controversy
( ). ( 2 ) <>^1^ also means punishment* which is the
result of administration of justice. In modern usage*
however* means politics or policy.
T. Punishment should be proportionate
to the crime.
8^1 * O
JU;> apple
takes its colour from its fellow - apple* and a neighbour
takes counsel from his fellow-neighbour. Cf ^ \ \ etc.
E. E. A man is known by the company he keeps.
$ C—C—V'i**' Should not a disabled
hand hold a red apple (/.<?. Should good things be denied
to an imperfect person )?
-271 -
( 1 ) It is implied from the way this pvb. is
worded that it was originally meant to he a declaration,
rather than an interrogation, in which case the originator
believed that a crippled hand is not worthy of a red apple.
( 2 ) The pvb, is now cited usually by a preson who is
not allowed a good thing, whether he believes he merits
it Or not.
^ o ^
T. The full man does not understand a
hungry one.
Note. Sometimes this pvb. is extended by adding to
it j) y^
c-l <1-5 -jS <0 See Note under etc
^ Ct ^
^ O., iJUJ. jl ^
r. i . It is only when the miser is interred that his silver
( /. money ) is disinterred ( or The miser’s gold is disin¬
terred only when he himself is interred ).
E. E. Shining gold for dark days.
^ . White silver ( i. money ) for dark days.
3 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
JIJA ^ The flower is a
flower no matter where it grows.
* 2 S 8
.^2^^ juIj ^Ul) .,x-0 JuIj ^Li F, T, One is hound to live
whether happy or unhappy.
C—.) ^> JTj 2**“ oi*
F. T. There is no joy without sorrow in this ( world’s )
market> no treasure - trove without a serpent) and no rose
without a thorn.
E. E, ( a ) No joy without alloy. ( h ) There is no rose
without a thorn.
^ 2^ * SS?
i. Po etS) geoniancerS) and hens die of hunger.
3^8 O 2^
oLc F, T. Mary is in labour)
hut Joan suffers from the pain.
Notes, ( 1 ) A variant form replaces (*‘^ and
U- feiY, proper names~by and •ht res¬
pectively. ( 2 ) Sometimes the pvb. is cited in an interro¬
gative form as follows:
which could freely be rendered thus: When Tom is in pain>
what is that to Jack ?
^ o ^
F, T, A main wall
may have to be pulled down to fill a pit.
2^ * 352
F, T, While the king gives*
Sheikh - Ali - kh^n refuses. {^Frorn the following story y
- 273 -
Katm-khan zand, ruler of Persia, once ordered a certain
P“«‘ 0* But
etkh-Alt-Khan, his minister, who thought it was unwise
to give such prizes out of the Treasury, was unwilling
to pay that sum«.
ote. The pvb. is cited in cases when a man of
authority promises a gift? or wishes to show kindness* to
another* hut a man of lower position opposes the gesture.
ayS ■fS' <ys
* <UUaU E, E, (a) Praise a fair day at night
( h ) He laughs best who laughs last. ( c ) All is well that
en s well. ( d ) At the end of the game you’ll see who’s
the winner.
Z*' /"IT*
• . It is the closing chapters of the Sh^hn^imeh that are
pleasant.
Note. Sh^hn^meht which means “ Book of Kings ”>
IS the famous epic poetry and legendary history of Iran
by Eerdowsi.
OjO 45 . ir C-.1 V. T. The night i8 pregnant, and
no one knows what it will bring forth the next day.
Note. This pvb. occurs frequently in its curtailed
form ^ cf. etc.
C ) oaK ylsdT j\j\j jufclwUdT j y=* ^ *
T-. The sun has always a brisk market for its rays*
though these may be hated by the bat.
^ ^ T. At night cotton-seeds look like
pearls. Cf. c—1 j^
E. E. ( Same as for *^1
•The king finally convinced the minister by explaining
that since the money was lying in the treasury without
interest* it would be much better to dispose of it in such
a way that it would circulate in the country and cause a great
many people thereby to earn their living.
18
- 274 -
juUj^-« OjTjp- T. At night a colt looks like a
peacock. Cf. the preceding pvb. and etc.
O ■» iC*
ijjX IT (Same as j-J- etc,)
J jirP. The king! warmed by
sable?} and the beggau warmed by the baker’s ovenj both
passed the night. ( From a versified storyj which may be
summarized as follows ):
During the reign of Salt 2 tn-M ah mood ^ a king of the
Ghaznavt Dynasty) one winter night a homeless beggar
passed the night by the side of a baker’s oven) which he
had chosen for warming himself. In the neighbourhood lay
the royal palacei where the king and his courtiers were
passing the night in revelry) warmed by sables and other
winter clothes. When morning camo the beggar cried out)
“ O king) you were warmed by sableS) and I was warmed
by the baker’s oven) but we have both passed the night”.
JUC F. r. Christmas eve brings poverty. ( Said
by people who cannot afford the heavy expenses necessitated
by the occasion }.
]^ote. properly means the eve of the ^OWfooZy
which is the Iranian New Year.
Kt
( poor ) man passing the night in
a foreign country finds the night too long.
^ F. T, The night’s carousal is not
worth next morning’s hangover.
At night the cat looks like a sable.
H, E, When the candle is away) all cats are grey.
Note. Although the above E. has been usually
accepted as an equivalent of the P. pvb.) common usage
makes this pvb. approach the sense conveyed by the E.
phrase “ To buy a pig in a poke
F. T. Glass beads have
-27 5-
no value at all in the jewelers’ market. Cf. etc ^
T. To throw a louse in some one’tf
hat (/. e, to give him cause for suspicion ).
E. E, ( a ) He thinks his fart as sweet
as musk. ( b ) He farts frankincense.
E. His louse ( or freely flea ) is Lady Mantzheh,
( Same as )
J ^jb jzZ T, The camel carries loads and
eats thorns. (Referring to people who? by their stoic nature^
live on scanty means and yet suffer the hardships of life.
Ol^ Of^ <r w-5 wJ <*;> OJU) ^
T7 T rri 1 j'*' ^ ^ • V « . ^
s. The camel dreams of eating cotton-seeds sometimes
greedily and sometimes one by one.
E. E, ( a ) The cat dreams of mice. ( b ) A lover dreams
of his mistress.
Say that you did not see the camel? and
relieve yourself of all commitments. ( Lit. ) “ Did you
see a camel ? ” “ No ( See the following anecdote and
the Notes appended thereto ).
A wise man? popularly identified with the famous
poet Sa’^di , was crossing the desert. On seeing the footprints
of a camel) he knew that a camel had been passing before
him. Further on? when he came to a lucern - field? he
noticed that only one side of the field had been grazed)
and guessed that the camel must have been blind in one
eye. In the vicinity also he saw the trace of a camel’s
kneeling - place) as well as the footprints of a woman? which
made him think that the rider? who had been a woman?
must have caused the camel to kneel in that spot for
a rest.*
* The anecdote has been? and is capable of being?
expanded by other details dealing with traces and conjec¬
tures) which contribute nothing subservient to the purpose.
276 -
At this juncture a man came up to SA^di^ and asked
him whether he had seen a camel in the neighbourhood.
Sa^di furnished the interrogator with all the foregoing
signs ane details» whereupon the man> who seemed to be the
camel^s owner? began to beat the innocent poet? who he
thought had stolen the beast and kept the woman. In this
way Sa'*dt committed himself by using his perspicacity?
whereas if? in reply to the man who asked him whether
he had seen the camel? he had only said? “ No ”? he would
have been relieved of such a commitment.
Notes, ( 1 ) The pvb. is a warning against giving
unnecessary or pedantic answers which involve one in
difficulties? and goes as far as to recommend the ignoring
of certain facts? even if one has witnessed them. ( 2 ) A
variant form of this pvb. is t5“4*** s. s. “( Even if )
you have seen the camel? ( say ) you did not see it’*.
Accordingly? the pvb. is also used as a request for waiving
a claim? or forgiving a fault. ( 3 ) The reason that the
anecdote is connected with Sa'^dt is based on the following
verse:
*
K s. How long dost thou allow to be beaten by the camel-
drivers? O Sa'^di} Thou couldst have ignored the matter
from the beginning? and said? “ No ”? in reply to the
question? Have you seen a camel? ”
It would seem as if Sa^dt had personally experienced
the trouble described in the anecdote? but the verse in
question seems altogether spurious? and must have been
invented by the vulgar to justify the belief that it was
Sa'di who originated the pvb. At any rate the story is
very old.
I O T. To give a drink to a camel with a
ladle. {Vteely') To feed an elephant with a handful of grass.
^ ^ ^ \j T. He has lost his camel?
and Ire looks for its bridle. See also <>:»^ \j etc.
^ 7 ^
• J or ! j2m F, T, Why ride
a camel if one wishes to crouch ( or hide oneself )?
^ sj? * sSs
a^jT uUc at F. r. A camel> wishing
to eat grass? stretches its neck.
E, E, ( Same as for b etc^ )
Note. A variant form of this pvh. replaces by
“ mess or morsel
^ ^He is like the ostrich?
which neither flies nor carries burdens. See etc.
and the Note appended thereto.
2 ^ * 2 ^
VI _
F. T. He is like the camel which bears the kettledrums?
he has too often heard these sounds to be frightened by
them. {From a versified story by Moivlavi, which runs
as follows };
A peasant child was beating a small drum in a field
in order to keep birds away. It happened that a king was
passing by, and one of the camels? which followed the
royal retinue? and on which the kettledrums used to be
beaten? was let loose? and allowed to graze in the field.
The child continued to beat his drum? this time to
drive away the camel. An old peasant? who knew that it
was this camel on which kettledrums were beaten day and
night? said to the child? “ Don’t waste your effort? for
this is the camel which bears the kettledrums? and which
has too often heard similar sounds to be frightened bv
them
E. E. He has lived too near a wood to be frightened by
Owls.
Note. A variant form reads utDI w-1 cU. jli
r ^ the last part of which means He is not scared
by such sounds ”,
I 1 F. T. Bra very in a human being means
patience ( or fortitude ).
- 278 -
jUj J ^^-cJ JI jC ‘^. Some one was
weeping all night over a sick person* but when morning
came the weeper died and the patient recovered.
Ci, c.trjp-t etc.
A jj f»Mc s jaT _^_s. yT JjT vjT <t_r^Mc ai
P. T. The servant went to the stream for water* but was
■ carried away by the water.
E. E. (a) He went for wool* but came home shorn. (b)Many
go out for wool* but come home shorn. (c) The fox is
taken when he comes to take.
h C.AA yi^ F. T. Wine that is given gratis
is drunk even by the Cadi ( or judge ).
^ ^Jb 4^ ^ 4^ ^‘ • So long as
it is given by a beauty* it makes no difference whether
the drink is sweet or bitter.
M) F. T. No mischief* no calamity ( Of evil ).
E, E. Let sleeping dogs lie.
^ (A.) E. F. (a) It is thou must honour the
place* not the place thee, (b) “Men grace the places”.
F. T, The seat is honoured by him who takes it,
sS? O'
fj^ Were partnership
a good thing} even God would have a partner.
Cf. the E. He who takes a partner takes a master.
<1919 ^ • A partner of the robber and a com¬
panion of the caravan.
E, E, ( a ) One who runs with tlie hare and hunts with the
liounds. ( b ) Jack - on - both - sides.
^il^wVijL© O jLc 4^^ F. T. Only the
- 279 -
dog of M.2iZandaf2ji can catch a M.’<^Zctnd(ifAn jackal.
Set a thief to catch a thief.
2^ * 2^
:?( <rjUi ¥. T. if the jackal
leaves the garden in a huffs so much the better for the
gardener.
No^e. also means ‘‘ to sulk ”s and “ to break
off relations Thuss when we say •^-*-** ^ it means
“ They are not in speaking terms with each other
^ 2^ 'H’ 2^
The jackal which
carries away chickens has a yellow Spot at the root of its
ear ( /. e. Not every one is fitted for every work ).
Cf. j^\ ^etc.
Bitter pills may have
wholesome effects.
P.T. If you want to be cured) take bitter physic ( lit,
drugs ).
Note, The first hemistich to this is
\jr I ^
«
i. Well said the old druggist.
2^ ^ 2^
^ ^ ^P, 7 . The game should be shot when
it perches on the pole.
2^ -O' 2^
O^j^. To carry cane-sugar to Khcozestg^fi,
E, E. ( Same as for *^.3 ).
jSZi j
ur ^ I.? UT (u( c.-< jto
P.T. The sugar from Mazandafan and that from India
are both sweet) but the one has nothing to do with the
other. ( Said of two things which are substantially different)
though there is an outward similarity between them }
Cf, Jili etc.
Note. The sugar known as ul-»'«3U is muscovado
or unrefined sugar.
- 280 -
1} ^ ‘ c-(^-1; P. T. It is the rope that
hauls the anchor) hut the sailor crieS) “Heave ho!” {Lit,)
It is the axe that hreakS) hut the woodcutter utters the cry.
\j ^ See under ^ etc.
C--1 f» Jp- ^
F. T. There is no other hird that is so unfortunate as I am
on account of my broken wingsi yet I flatter myself that
I am a pigeon of the Sanctuary. (*^ 0-^ etc.
Note. By “the Sanctuary” is meant the holy place in
Mecca where pilgrims perform their ceremonies) and the
pigeons thereof are immune from heing killed) or hit hy
stones. Nevertheless) the pigeon referred to in the verse
seems to prefer freedom) which makes life really happy)
to such immunity. One might freely Say) “ Freedom
before safety
O^?4) F. T. Healthy bowels are better
( for a child ) than a tender mother.
Note. Since the original meaning of is “ running
or flowing is a state of health in which one is
not constipated.
C***»,^ jlJ F. T. The belly is a
subordinate organ? and is satisfied with anything which
it receives.
4*#*! jT "^**1 Satne as etc,
o 3S2
• F, E. ( a ) Great boast little toast.
( b ) He robs his belly to cover his back.
^ o ^
^ C-;) J 4)
F‘ E. How can one make a good sword from bad iron?
- 281 -
The ignoble will not become noble by trainings O sage'
Cf, Slbj etc,
1 4il:> F, T. The candle lightens
the house just before it goes out.
F. E. It is a lightening before death. Cf.
^ o ^
^ E. E, Hearing of a thing is never
like seeing it.
E. E. Seeing is believing.
E. You have heard that pregnant women eat clayj but you
do not know what kind of clay it is. ( Used in cases when
confusion is caused by imperfect knowledge }.
Notes, (1) The clay that pregnant women sometimes
fancy is either Silicas aluminis-, or
The latter? which literally means clay with which one
washes one S head ? is a kind of clay which? according
to British scientific authorities? of whose finding the
author was informed during his stay in London? consists
principally of montmorillonite. Some Iranian women still
use it for cleansing their hair. (2) The pvb. is susceptible
of grammatical changes. Thus? one might say etc.
t. e, such a one has heard? etc.
E. T, Starting with a jest?
in the end one will find oneself to be in earnest.
Notes. ( 1 ) A variant form replaces by
. ( 2 ) This saying is a caution against making
jokes? but there also exists the jocular saying
F.T. I have married in
order to tidy myself? not my room. (Said by a woman
who thinks about adorning herself? rather than doing house
work } .
Notes. ( 1 ) is woad or indigo witli which women
- 282 -
dyed their eyebrows. (2) is to patch up garments.
( 3 ) The resemblance between the words and
which produce a sort of “ assonance ”? gives some beauty
to the P. saying.
IjM, J f P. P- So long as my
husband earns breads I don’t mind where he works.
Let my husband go to the caravanserai? ( but ) let his bread
come to the harem? i. e. the women’s apartment.
Note, The vulgar pronunciation of 1^1 is ^k^fOiYi-
? which rinies with 1-^ f-^ ‘ hatan7sata ’.
JliU j\m y I don’t mind if my
husband is a jackal? so long as my bin is full of bread.
Note, It is again the assonance between the words
and ( See etc. )? which gives a
proverbial shape to the P.? otherwise the thought expressed
by it seems to have been greatly exaggerated.
( (i**— 3 P' P- woman’s
husband should better be blind.
Note, Dehkhoda gives a variant which replaces k-lJ
by 'igly io which case the quotation would mean
“ An ugly woman is fit for an ugly man. ” But then it
does not suit tlie context in the story from Sa^ait which goes
as follows;- A very ugly woman was married to a blindman.
An eye-doctor in those days claimed to be able to cure
blindness? but the woman’s father was unwilling to
have his son-.in-law cured? and said? in reply to those
who asked him the reason? “ I fear lest my daughter be
divorced if her husband is cured ”.
P' ^ • A man - dev ouring lion is
better than a tyrant king.
A lion may avoid ( Of run away
from ) an ant.
^ ^ ' ^ ever seen a
lion having no tail? head? and belly. j^This refers not only to
- 283 -
an extraordinary and unimaginable thing, but to an organi¬
zation which has been greatly tampered with, and conse¬
quently robbed of its true nature. The mother story, which
has been versified by the poet Aiowlavi, and which has a
somewhat different implication, runs briefly as follows ):
A man from Ghazvin went to a tattoist and asked
him to tattoo his body wit^ the figure of a lion. The
first punctures, however, caused him to shrink with pain,
and he cried, “ What are you doing “ I am designing a
lion on your body, as ordered by yourself ”, said the
tattoist. “ And where have you started from ?” said the
man. “ From the lion’s tail ”, was the reply, “ Grant for
a while , said the man, “ that the lion has no tail, and
proceed with another member ”.
The tattoist then began to prick in the pigments
required for the design of the lion’s ear. But this time
also the Ghazvini fool was unable to stand the pain, and
shouted, What part of the animal is that “ It is the
ear ”, said the tattoist, “ which forms part of the head
“But let us suppose that the lion has no head ”, said the
man.
The third time the tattoist proceeded with designing
the lion’s belly, though it was obvious that the man
was no less sensible to the pain. So he cried, “ What part
of the animal are you working at now ?” “ It is the belly”,
answered the tattoist, who was growing impatient. “ Grant
now that the model lion had no belly to begin with”, said
the fool. Whereupon the tattoist dropped his tools, and said
in despair, “ Has any one ever seen a lion having no tail,
head, and belly ?”
jrji F. 1. It is only when hungry that
the lion seeks its prey.
^ O
wUThe lion’s whelp resembles
its parent. Cf, etc.
F. E. Like father, like son.
^ Cf ^
( ^ i'j! ■ 'f. No comparison
- 284 -
hetween the { lifeless ) lion of the flag and the { living )
forinidaklc lion ?
Note. j:- /. e. the figure of the lion on a (Persian)
flag> may he rendered in E. “ a man of straw ” or “ a
cardboard cavalier”* and is a synonym of
Ajjb E, E. (a ) Goat’s wool. ( h ) Blue diamond.
T. Hen’s milk.
Note, The expressions in both languages refer to things
which do not existj but the P. implies an extremely rare
and precious object* whence comes the expression
i. e. everything which can possibly be imagined-
beginning with ‘hen’s milk’* and ending with ‘human soul’.
S T-. Are you a lion or a fox ? (Meaning* “Have
you succeeded in doing what you proceeded to do* or in
delivering your message* or not ? )
F. T, Broken glass cannot
be mended.
E. E, What is done cannot be undone.
cf. also oL iSytT etc,
jeS 3 1 . Glass and axe. ( Referring to things which are
incompatible witli each other }.
S jl ^JL^5>cA Ij T, The Devil
cannot prevail over sincere devotees* just as the king can
do nothing to the indigent.
E. E, He knows one point more than the
Devil.
E. He teaches the Devil.
3^ O
I— F, T. He has used his soap for
every one s clothes ( F c. He has left no one uninjured
or undeceived ).
Note. AaJb may be replaced by personal pronouns?
such as 7?2e<i him, etc.
2^ O 2^
jtbj JjUj ,
F. T. He is not wise who dares
strength of possessing an antidote.
to take poison on the
2^ -O’ 2^2
T. The owner of the ass walks behind
it. {Cited interrogatively or ironically by one who has been
denied the full advantage of his property }.
F. T. (l)Unless you have a feeling
that there is something wrong? you will not ( be able to )
remedy it. ( 2 ) The pleasure of being cured d epends
On the possession of illness.
* O
iS r. I rose in the
morning to meet EliaS) but encountered a bear.
Note, and ^JrJ- present a similarity which may
be considered a sort of ‘‘ assonance
<-tib F. T. The sound will be heard
in the morning ( /. e. The result will be known in due
course). ( From the following anecdote }:
A certain burglar? finding it difficult to pull out
the door of a house? set about sawing its pivot { or? accor¬
ding to some? piercing the door by means of a bow-drill ),
- 286 -
The owner of the house was awakened by the noisej but*
being unable to discern anything in the dark? asked) **Who
are you) and what the hell are you doing? The man
replied) “ Being a violinist) I am playing on the \riolin”.
“And where is the sound of the violin?” asked the
owner of the house. “ The sound of this violin ”> said
the burglar) “ will be heard in the morning
Notes. ( 1 ) Mowlavt has a versified story) which
must have originated the above anecdote. But his version
mentions that the burglar was “ undermining the wall of
the house and that “ he said he was a drummer) and
was now beating his drum ( 2 ) It was really <^1*^
“ kamancheh ”) the predecessor of the violin to which
the burglar of the first version was referring) as the
karneiUcheh has a leg which rests on the ground while
being played) and the movement of its bow) which is applied
to the strings at right angles) resembles that of the bow
turning a drill.
C.-) Jji) F. T. Patience is bitter)
but its fruit is sweet. Cf. the next entry.
ji jLUJoS jib j
F. T. Pat ience and victory are old friends! the latter follows
in the footsteps of the former.
E, E, ( a ) Patience opens all doors. ( b ) Everything comes
to him who waits. ( c ) Patience and perseverance won a
wife for His Reverence, (d) How poor are they that have no
patience ( Shakespeare ).
cJKJ F. 7*. Good company brings
the company of the good.
E. E. A man is known by the company he keeps.
5CS O sjs
jb U jl ( Sa??ie as o-l c—-aC \
-O' 2^
F, T. The d rum makes
noise because it is empty.
MS' ^
you in
-287-
Empty vessels make the most noise.
8^ O *
r. The cackling of the hen is not
worth ( even ) an egg.
* sSS
The sound of the drum is
pleasant at a distance, Cf. Jaj) jljT e/f.
B. E. ‘Tis the distance that lends enchantment to the wiew
( and rots the mountain of its azure blue ).
^ B. E. Look before you leap.
P. T. Measure a hundred times before you cut once.
cf, etc.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
^•jU <«jaC ^^
J, j\ jUj F. T. Many an ill person with one
foot in the grave has recovered. Cf. etc,
JlClJ F. T, Out of a hundred
eggs that he breaks not a single one has got a yolk. ( See
expl anation for ^jL-# Ajjfj^etc )
L^t ^ ^ P' P• He whose heart
and tongue are one is worth a hundred souls’ ransom,
P* P- Out of a hundred knives
that he makes not one has a handle. ( See expl anatio}i
for jjL-; ojS'-u. etc,).
^ ■£ 3 ’
^i-iJ o^LlP E. E, ( a ) Where one door
shuts? another opens. ( b ) God never closed one gap that
He did not open another.
^ • ^hen one door shuts a hundred other doors open,
Cf. J etc.
* ^L-J Cbc—t ^ c— ,5*^ T*. A hundred friends are
few? one enemy is too many.
- 288 -
jjb\ jSIcJS ^jAmt ^ JU? See under etc,
^ •tJ' ^
? ^ i F. T. You are getting 100
din 2 js for wiping my nosej do I have to do the blowing ?
{Ff 07 n the following anecdote y
A man who was notorious for laziness once offered
to pay a hundred dinars to any one who would wipe his
nose for him. Someone accepted the offer* and* taking
hold of the lazy man’s nose* said to him* Blow your
nose “ But ”* Said the man* “ You are getting a good
round sum to do the task* why do you expect me to do
the blowing ?”
F. T, He receives a penny to take away dirt* and spends
twice that sum for taking a bath.
Notes. ( 1 ) literally means “ to castrate
a dog ”> which ceremonially necessitates taking a bath
after the operation. ( 2 ) One ( ubbasi ) was equal to
200 ‘‘ dinars ”, or one-fifth of a kfa.n. But nowadays 200
dinars equals 2 rials,
JU? See under
1^ <ju.p- He has been
a beggar for a hundred years* yet he doesn’t know the eve
of Friday. ( Cited in similar cases ).
Note, Friday being a religious holiday? people are
accustomed to give alms on that day.
jM T. A hundred heads are worth ( only )
one beetroot. ( Such and such a place is overcrowded.
Note, The E. “ Where there are too many* life is
cheap ’ may be considered as a near pariillel for the P.
1 ^*^ 3 oMy* \j jm h. 7 . He can be a hat for a
hundred heads and a stick for a iiundred blindnien ( i. e.
He is an extremely clever or helpful person ).
289 -
J Mjji h tijU? F. T. The shell ( or
mother-of-pearl ) obtains honour on account of the pearl.
O &
^ji oU F . T, The reward for charity
( or alms ) goes to the charitable person ( or almsgiver ).
E, E, Virtue is its own reward.
T, Calamities are averted by alms( giving ).
E, E. Alms are the golden key that opens the gate of heaven.
T. One stone ( lit, clod of
earth ) is enough for a hundred crows.
Note. The Turkish has / e Qne stone
and a thousand crows.
^ He makes a hundred
jugs of which not one has a handle ( /. e. His statements
are all without foundation) you can4 believe a single word
he says).
^ ^ h ) yT {jJ Jto JU?
F. T. He leads many a one like you to the river and brings
them back thirsty ( i. e. He is very cunning ).
^ Xa F. T. A hundred
pounds of game is not worth smelling the stinking hound.
Note. Dehkhoda^s version replaces by which
means “ airs ”. The replaced word is* of course) indecent?
but I have never heard used in this pvb.
cH A single cat will suffice
for a hundred mice.
^S ^ j CmijT
F.T. The house is made pleasant by sweeping and sprink¬
ling of water? and the face by the eyes and eyebrows.
(Note the quasi-rime between J->W- “broom or sweeping”?
and 1 “ eyebrow ” ).
19
- 290 -
F, T. The face of
the gardener reflects the pleasantness of the garden.
‘■^*^ 4 . 5 ^ A single lemon will cure his
biliousness {i.e. He is not hard to please ).
Note, ig bile and) by extension) “ biliousness ’*)
and anything which is antibilious or serves as a cholagogue
is said to be or c/^ . Hence the use of the
verb /. e, “breaks”.
F. T. Kings know best what
safeguards the interests of their states. [ Cited by one who
abstains from giving advice to another ).
Every ass loves
to hear himself bray.
F. F, His voice sounds pleasant in his own ear.
{> \j Same as oj ^ I etc.
( } ^juj F. T. An unlucky fisherman ( lit. one who is
deprived by Providence of his daily bread ) will not catch
fish ( even ) in the Tigris, and a fish whose time has not
come will not die ( even ) on land,
4r oiu jKic jb ^ <0
. . A hunter doesn’t always capture a jackal; he may
one day be captured by a leopard. Cf, etc.
Note. A variant form substitutes “game” for
Jl*-. “jackal”) in which case the translation would be “ A
hunter doesn’t always carry away game; he may one day
be devoured by a leopard ”.
O «• 3^
{ 1 iJj aU? a>T j^l {j p p
hour of the prey comes, it goes to meet the hunter,
b. E, One must die when one’s time comes.
I? » sSs
‘ojt^ 2^ P. r. The locust is
far beneath the royal falcon.
prey
^ ^ F. T. He who has guaranteed to
feed His creatures will provide them with their daily bread.
Cf, -uj aT^jgT^ etc.
( A. ) F.T. A blow from a friend is a boon
( or blessing ).
Note. *^.j is the A. word for Jij-* » which means
“ currants
Same as flC^ ok} etc.
Cowf c*Xa*X) ^ ^ • To cut a loss
is a profit no matter at what stage it is. Cf. j\ etc.
E. E, One good turn deserves another.
F. T. One entertainment leads to another.
1
W.-1 JU^ -^h Throwing lucky
dice makes every one a good player.
E. E. He plays well that wins.
No^e. A variant form of this pvb. is y
c*-! .sl> where has been used in the sense of
“ dice But in modern usage means “a man or piece
used in the game of backgammons^ rather than the dice*
which are called
A—>1—^ F. T, He could not
afford the entertainment! so he left the house to the guest.
<!jj> 2 ^^? r. If you are lucky? go and
lie on your back. ( More freely ) A lucky man may do as
he likes.
{<^-^>*1) ! jM J F. T. Do you expect to find
a peacock in a peasant’s house ? C/. t-r^^ etc,
JIJ To beat a drum under a rug ( F to
try to conceal what is obvious or notorious? also? to waste
one’s effort ).
F. T. A too kind doctor loses
credit with his patient.
,^1^91 pi) ji c «^ t^ T. His tub fell down from the house-top
{ c. His secrets were divulged and he was put to shame).
Cf , \j^ o etc.
Note, Other pronouns may be substituted for “his”?
as necessitated by the occasion.
-293-
c _
C****** P. i . Not every little bird
can find figs to eat ( i. €. Not every one is fitted for
every work ). Cf, -^1 etc,
S w—t c.a«l <jr F. T. Dirt does not
harm pure gold Of Pure gold does not care for the earth
( in which it is buried ). Cf , etc.
E, E. ( a) A clear conscience laughs at false accusations ( or
fears no accusers ). ( b ) Be true and fear not. ( c ) Speak
the truth and shame the Devil.
Note. A popular variant substitutes for the last part
of this pvb. ^ '^1 <2 JUm /, e. “ doesn’t need to be
beholden to? or reproached by> the earth”.
dl^PcD uJUb T. Sums owing to you are not assets.
E. T. Do not demand too much) lest the giver regret his
generous gesture ( or change his mind ).
E. E. All covet) all lose.
o ^
JuT" j?b E. Don’t expect the sparrow
to be ( or behave ) like a hawk.
F. T. Do not measure the cloth before you
have settled on the price. Cf. ^ etc.
T, The oppressor complains
against the oppressed-
E. That is the case of the wolf and the lamb.
ajg o
Ij The oppressor undermines his
own wall.
T, The oppressor is safe.
Cf, the E. E. given for •*; etc.
fOJi <10^ \j jtfcJU?
C ) 4_j t,ij> c-t Cxi F. T. On seeing a
cruel man sleeping in midday? I said? ‘‘ Better leave him
like that? for he will start trouble ( if he is awakened ).”
F. E, Let sleeping dogs lie.
iji) J ^\M, <J- T. There is no
oppressor who will not suffer at the hand of another
oppressor.
:;f ^y{) J j\ F. T. A sheikh outwardly, and
a devil inwardly.
Note. « Sheikh ”, as used here, means a religious
leader.
oJJoc T. Injustice evenly distributed is justice
( or General injustice is just ).
^Note. The E. “ Company in distress makes sorrow
less or “ Company in misery makes it light ” may be
considered parallels, but are not equivalents.
-295 -
y E. E. ( a ) The fathers have
eaten sour grapes? and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
( b ) The sins of the fathers are visited on the children.
F. T. The tyranny of the tyrant is visited on his children.
^ -O' 2^8
J F, T. The tyrant’s cruelty passes
away like snow in summer.
Note, is a Jewish and Syriac month covering
partly June and partly July.
c-t ,cJuJs> Ojlc Habit is second nature.
•• E. ( a ) More haste) less speed.
( b ) Haste makes waste.
He who makes haste does his work twice over.
C>^-^ C^-0 ^ J> \j 4oJb J JJS*- ^J> 4.C.A b
^' Even though all lovers were carried away by water*
beauties would be deep in slumber.
8 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
^liT* 1) F. T. I am in love with you but only aS
far as the edge of the roof. { Cited in cases when a person
who boasts of love is too inconstant to accompany his
Sweetheart in danger }.
2^ * $
C.- 1 I F. 7 . One shows he is in
love when one seems to be sore - hearted.
I\ofe, The second hemistich to this is
■
There is no sickness like love - sickness,
sSs 2^
JJ F. 7. To be in love requires patience*
not boasting.
i . The sinner who lifts up his hands in prayer is better
than the worshipper who is full of pride.
„ _ sS 'H' ^
C-»-l ^^ . Speaking ill of others leads
in the end to enmity.
3SS O 3Ss
- 297 -
^ F. T, Who ?eeks will find at last.
{ wf jj) uf oJlc
£. What is Bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
P, T, In the end the young of the wolf will turn a wolf>
though it grows up with a human being,
E. E. ( a ) A word to the wise (is sufficient).
( b ) A word is enough to the wise. ( c ) A nod for the
wise( > a rod for the fool ).
Cf, jJUil etc,
_ _ _ ^ * 3^
c-i jr wT :>! 0 i l_^,s ^ Jj \s ^LC; Jilc
. , While the wise ( or rational ) man was seeking a
bridge) the barefooted fool took to the water and crossed
the river, Cf, jiU L' etc. and the explanation
following same,
L ) J9^£
P. The wise man is not
deceived twice. Cf. jLC etc.
j ^ <5 ju <_r yj> ^>7
P. T. A good preacher (lit. a learned man) is he who avoids
evil actS) not he who preaches it to others? but practises
it not himself.
3^ O ^
j^>^> ? wOIa P- P. A learned man
without ( good ) deeds is like a bee which gives no honey
( but stings ).
Motes. ( 1 ) The full form of this? as given in the
Goles tsin^ is (*1^ -iiiiT|j^ y e. They
asked a certain man) “ To what is a learned man without
deeds compared.^” He answered? “To a bee which gives no
honey. ” ( 2 ) means also? especially in its pi. form
h-hi olaniay a doctor of theology and sacred law,
* r H d man without deeds is
a fruitless tree.
3^: * 2^
- 298 -
r. An incontinent
preacher {pf theologian) is a hlindman holding a torch.
^J^O) Jp <5-^ ^}J a^b c.aP <r O
® moralist ( Of preacher ) has nothing more than
mere words; nothing that he says will have effect
on others.
C^a:> OjiUc F, T, Worship ( or serving
God ) is nothing but serving one’s fellow - creatures.
.^wt£' F, T, Better the Devil confined in
a glass and one’s enemy imprisoned in a well.
V^*** F. T. The enemy may> if
God wills; do good ( or be a cause of blessing ).
^. The bride was very
beautiful; so she got scabby as well. { Said ironically
when a state of affairs; far from being improved; has been
aggravated }. Cf. w-l ^ etc,
^ o ^
wV*- ob^r* Uj ^' When it was my turn to
enjoy fruition with the bride; the night became short,
ibtressing an unexpected change of fortune ).
"r vr 'r^.'" ^‘u' ^
. Ihe bride who is praised by her mother is fit for her
( maternal ) uncle. C/^. <r ^syJ^A etc,
{j.
^05U(^ <^, /•■. r. To lull one’s child
lo sleep in the cradle before being married.
r. , count one s chickens before they are hatched.
lAdapted from the usual form « Don’t count your chickens
before they are hatclied”. Cf, -kijU-t ^ jjl Ij -l-*>. 1
■» sCe
^ . C^f ai. . -A., . ^ ^
- 299 -
F, T. Contentment honour doth breed)
While contempt is caused by greed?
Seek not) therefore? to be contemptible?
And hold in esteein your honour indeed.
Note, This is probably a P. version of the Arabic
quotation ^which is atttibuted to Ali?
Mohammed’s son-in-law? and which means? “Whosoever is
contented attains honour? and whosoever is covetous is
humiliated. P. poetry has moulded this thought into a
quatrain? of which the first two lines are quoted above?
and the last two lines are as follows:
_ jvl fj3!
i. €. Seek not assistance from the people of the day? nor
expect a bare branch to give you shade.
jTc-O) Ojc T. Every man is the architect
of his own honour. (Adapted from the famous E. quotation
“Every man is the architect of his own fortune”).
h J F. T. To the sour - tempered honey
itself is bitter.
^• Saying “ Honey ” does not
sweeten one’s mouth. See 31 etc. and the E. E.
given for it.
JU>^ cJLfii (Jl>) J-x F. T. If she were honey people
might touch her for a taste? but she is not. ( This means
that there is no fear of this girl or woman being spoiled
if she associates with men }.
j*^ ^ ■ Should an old man
fall in love? it will end in disgrace.
J Love and the odour of musk
cannot be hidden.
E, E. Love? a cough? and the itch cannot be hid.
-300-
(j F. T, I dispensed with his gift
on account of his features. ( From ah anecdote in the
hook of Golestaft by Sa'*diy which is summarized as
follows }:
A poor man was advised to appeal to a very rich
man who would be sure to give him pecuniary aid? but
when he came to the rich man^s place? and saw his scowling
aspect? he turned back without saying a word. On being
asked why he did not ask the rich man for a gift? he
replied? “ I dispensed with his gift on account of his
features. ”
( iS'^ } ^jO Forgiving
the oppressors is cruelty to the oppressed, Cf. ^ (*»-y etc^
F. E. He hurts the good who spares the bad.
F. He goes as far as
Moorchekhort to bring back his louse. ( Freely ) He is so
mean that he would not lose a louse.
F. F. He won’t give away ( Of lose ) the droppings of
his nose.
I ^ wIaC- F, T. The marriage
of cousins is predestinated. F//. The marriage contract of
cousins is concluded in heaven. { In Iran the custom of
marrying one s cousin is considered to be a good one 3-
Note. By “ cousin ” in this case is meant the son or
daughter of one’s paternal uncle.
^ F. T. Age has nothing to do with
wits. c/. Jl-; <: 0-1 Ji,.
JF F- T. Intelligence is quite
different from knowledge acquired in schools,
-tv
Ja»j <r F, r. If your own
wits are to that extent? Heaven save us from your children’s
wits. Said to one who docs a silly act
- 301 -
JUjrjA F, T, TKe wits of a country yokel
follow his acts.
J>At c/F. T, One’s wisdom is streng¬
thened by another’s.
F. E, Two heads are better than one.
^F, T, Lack of reason brings torment
to the spirit.
?5g -C^ 358
} ji jf oO cJji j jac F, T. Good sense and good
fortune are akin.
JL*3t 4> juli F. T. The elimination of an evil
by a worse evil is an absurdity.
Note, The expression **“*1 ^ where means
* averting or curing ’ is of frequent usage.
( ^^ jub <*§(J F, T, The remedy
should be prepared before the accident.
E. E. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
y j) cJS' F. T. The cause may disappear?
but the habit will remain.
3 ^ * 3 ^
F. T, Love - sickness is quite
different from other diseases.
3 ^ O 351
tSj^ F,T. it is the goat
which has to choose the grass it likes.
E. E. ( Same as for U ).
Notes, { 1 ) Fyehkhoddi has *HAr* iSj\ jU-** (-aIp which
would be a definite assertion that goats find grass to be
Sweet. Even if the word ‘‘ goats ’’ were read with emphasis?
it would not be quite the same as ui'^
( 2 ) The pvb. may mean also that every one is the best
judge of his own affairs. { 3 ) is the diminutive for Jt
and means “ little goat”? while the word for “kid” is
352 * 35 ?
- 302 -
^L.A«wf L r < * * * > T. Spinach is not a bad grass.
Note. This saying has different implications. Firstly*
it is said to one who is eating anything with great relish*
and amounts to saying* “ It doesn’t fare ill with you ”*
which is ironical for ‘‘ You are having a very good time
with it Secondly* the originator of this phrase intended
perhaps to Say* Spinach is a very good vegetable ”* but
since he had believed* before tasting it* that it was a useless
grass* after tasting it he said* in an attempt to save his
face* that it was not €l b ad grass.
P. Learning ( Of knowledge ) is intended for cultivating
religion* not for worldly enjoyments.
{ci-*- ) o-J y Ji Jac
i. However much you acquire learning, so long as you do
not practise what you have learned* you are ignorant,
c. E. Action is the proper fruit of knowledge.
3 ^ < 3 -
J F. T. Alt will remain alone with his
fountain. { Fro/n the following anecdote
A certain preacher was narrating the tradition that
on the Judgment Day Alt, the Prophet’s son-in-law* would
cause the righteous people to drink from the water of
howsai-~a river ( or* for purposes of this anecdote* a
fountain ) in Paradise. He then began to enumerate a series
of sins of commission and omission* which would dis(|ualify
a person for drinking the holy water.
When the preacher had finished the sermon* one of
the audience, who thought the fulfilment of the qualifying
conditions by a human being was impossible* rose and said*
“ In these circumstances /IZ; will remain alone with his
fountain. ”
otes. { 1 ) This pvb. is susceptible of grammatical
changes; for example* one can say e “Only
Alt remained there and his fountain ”, meaning thereby
that every one turned away from such and such a person,
an he was left alone, { 2 ) All lexicographers tell US
- 303 -
that Kotusaf is the name of a river in Paradise) while the
tradition giving birth to this anecdote calls it ) i.
the pond or pool of Kowsaf, Steingass writes? A river in
Paradise whence all the other rivers derive their source”.
To combine these? I have found it necessary to use the
word “ fountain ”? especially because it is believed that
Alt will give the pious to drink from it.
w--* ^ happy life is never
too long) though it is Noah’s life? and an unhappy life is
ever too long? though it is a moment ( lit. half a breath ).
^1 J Caul j) jXi£' F. T. Life is like snow in
summer.
Note. is the Jewish and Syriac month? which
corresponds to part of June and part of July.
IjruJ* F, T. No one has ever been
given a second life ( or No one has lived twice ).
Note. This is a regular hemistich from a fragment
composed by Farrokhiy and I prefer it to the prosaic
variant kAitoaUA)
^jljli JO F, T. Ill deeds will not prosper in the end.
E. E, Knavery may serve a turn? but honesty is best is
the end.
©JU jrtC CiMwO 3^ JLo
C-J jl pT O'**#’ ^ P. T*. Do not allow others
to control your property; for it is nothing less than beg¬
gary to ask for one’s own.
F. T. Aloes and musk do not
yield their perfume? unless they place the former on fire?
and rub down the latter.
E. E. If you heat spice it will smell sweeter.
, i-J ^ C^U ^ 3 ^ F. T. He licks the moonlight when
- 304 -
he cannot taBte the yoghurt.
H. E. Many a one kisses the child for love of the mistress.
^ IJ ^ AS" 4)^ E,T. Better not to
promise at all than to make a promise and break it.
E. E. Make few promises.
He who worships his wife worships
God. {Alore freely) He is pious who is uxorious.
No one sees his own faults.
$ * ^8
C *51^1 ) c—*! ^ jA F. T. It is the
worst fault to disclose the faults of others.
<1^ ^ u**c F. T. Since you have
enumerated the faults of winc) it is fair enough to mention
its virtues as well.
E. E, Give the devil his due.
< 5 -
I U F, T. The festival of Nowfooz
discloses the faults ( of the poor classes ), ( Because they
cannot afford the heavy expenditure of the festival).
Note. This is sometimes shortened to CmuJJLX
This is not a festivalj it is a shame. At any rate it is
the similarity between and which makes these sayings
worthy of insertion.
* 2SS
Every one to his religion.
Note. The original meaning of this phrase is “ The
followers of Jesus and those of Moses must have liberty
of conscience. ”
U F. T. One need not look after him
who serves food at table* such a one is sure to look after
himself. ( More freely ) Don’t think of the carver* he
will get his share.
Note. ^aT * which is Originally a skimmer* is also
a shallow* flat-bladed utensil for serving food.
8^ ■£>
1 ,:^^! ^ F, 2 , A man’s character is tested when
he is in anger.
j I JUT* ^ 1. When a slave attains old
age* he is emancipated by his master. { There is usually
regard for old age }.
j 4) F. T, Better common and erroneous
than obsolete and correct.
U ^S^Jj J J < U j ji
F, T. Hence* sorrow and dread!
Welcome* joy and daily bread!
( Cited by superstitious people when they trim their
•nails }.
Note, wi>e^ literally means “ affliction or suffering
,^1) ,^j> One nail drives another.
F. T, An old worry gives way to a new one. Ct. etc.
S ^^ ' Cease to worry for
something which is yet to come.
E. F. ( a ) Don’t fear the worst until you see the worst.
20
- 306 -
( b ) Don’t fear the bridges until you come to them.
^ -tJ* 2^
F, T. Let him have grief who habitually likes to whinei
And let him have a drink who usually drinks wine.
E. E, An opium-smoker will always find opium.
c/. etc,
2^ * SSS
F, T. Behold? look after those who are inferior to yoU) and
beware the ( fickle ) fortune which is superior to you.
See and the E, E. given for it,
ji F. T. One should not worry
to-day for the trouble that is expected to-morrow.
E. E, Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
F.T. What makes one man sad
makes another man glad.
E. E, What is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Note, "jy means a group or multitude? and r>* a tribe
or nation.
^ 2 ^
jSi F, T. The anguish of one
wlio is bereaved of a brother is understood by one who has
had the same plight.
^ E. E, Sadness and gladness succeed
each other.
2 . Sorrow and joy are linked together.
Note, This is a part of the hemistich J
J (J, V,
-D-
^ Make the most of the
moment. Ct, 1 c.5
i\ote, 1 he following quotation is from a translation
of Plutarches Alorals-,
The whole life of man is but a point of time? let us
enjoy iti therefore? while it lasts? and not spend it to no
purpose.
F. J . The div'er who fears the jaws of the crocodile w ill
never snatch up the precious pearl. Cf, the E. Nothing
venture? nothing have.
<y ^
ObXM oJ^ oj^t E. E. He is trying to run before he
has learned to walk ( or creep ).
F, T. He has hardly passed the Stage of unripe grapes? yet
he has become ( or wishes to become ) a currant.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
JU) 4it:> F. T . Even a ghoul will not stay
long in this house. { Used in describing a house? which is
in a ruined or desolate condition ).
l^ote. Ghoul-i as described in eastern fables? is an ogre
which usually lives in the wilderness? or in desolate places.
Kt
F. T. You will have relief if
you choose silence.
^ o ^
c.-! oa_il^ jU) CJiTj^^ <2PtuU 4^ld
F. T. The Prophet’s daughter has prayed on behalf of the
slovenly {or untidy) women. {These are usually better off>
and more loved by their husbands^ than other women 3*
NoUs, ( 1 ) ( Fatemah ) is the name of the
Prophet s daughter^ and ( Zuhr^ ) is her epithet.
^ ^ ) ‘-.-j j ( rak~ at ) is ek unit of prayer consisting of three
postures: standings genuflexion^ and prostration.
O It is an evil tongue which utters an
evil omen,
c.-t <;;9 £, E. Let sleeping dogs lie.
F. i . Do not awaken the sleeping mischief.
^ ^ ^ C—F, He who has a great
treasure has a great many sorrows. C(. etc,
F. F. Much coin? much care,
-O'
6wt>i-vj Ij h, E, INo one knows what the future
will bring forth.
^ . No one has seen the morrow. Cf. j etc.
Note, A variant form is -^-1 \ij /. e. Who-
has ever seen the morrow ?
o ^
cTii c-l .»)U .^.c 4a- J‘\ aij )J
Ihe child is full of defects; yet his t,ither consider^
him free of them. cf. etc.
- 309 -
E. E. The owl thinks all her young beauties.
L JVb- ^ Same as etc.
■£> 2^
{ ^ j :^. ^ V
entrusted with the distribution of the winds cares nothing
if the poor old woman’s lamp is extinguished.
cf. U;T 1-vi etc.
-i^lpc5 T. The earth is his carpet and
the sky his quilt { /. ^. he is indigent ).
cf. the E. ‘sky-clad’ which? facetiously? means ‘naked’.
J E. *E. One should not let
opportunity slip {or one should make the most of his oppor¬
tunity). cf. sl^i c—^ (J>
Cm*J JIpm ji F. T. It is not impossible to grant ( or
imagine ) an impossibility.
C*M*1 E‘ E. The howling of the jackal
involves it in trouble.
^ o
F. T. The world’s deceit is a
well-known story.
E. E. No deceit like the world’s.
Note. The second hemistich to this is
q. V.
C^l .F O^F ^^difficult to
unite? but easy to disunite.
C.~ J ‘‘J F. 7 . Mr. “ Know-
All ”? even if he went to hell? would say the fuel
was damp.
Note. The original meaning of J>^* is “ meddling ”.
But in modern colloquial P. it means “ a meddler or
- 310 -
blabber ”> or adjectivally) “ meddlesome or officious
However? in the pvb. in question) “ know-all ” is
considered to suit the context best. •
SSs * 30?
( ^ man^s nature is
known by his acts.
E, E. ( Same as for etc^) . ■ ,
Note, The poet has apparently translated the A. pvb.
) which is to the same effect? and
which is said to belong to Alt, the Prophet’s son-in-law.
*-f F, T. The indigent live next door to
hell. { This is due mostly to the fact that they are apt to
commit blosphemy or other crimes }.
Note, The above explanation is confirmed by Deh~
khoaa. However? the expression ^ is com¬
monly understood to mean “ Such a one is in the habit of
repeating the phrase *What the hell do I care?? so often that
one might think he is sitting next door to hell”. Therefore?
the phrase may also mean “ The indigent
person can bear losses with a much greater fortitude than
other people, and is disposed to say? “ What the hell do
I care? ” Cf. the E. expression sanguinary language ”?'
whmh IS so-called because the word ‘bloody’ is often used
I OJJ
3 ^ ^
E, T. Think of the bread which is the staple food;
Melons are water, and do you no good.
(Said to a person who thinks about trifles, or who idles
about and follows no useful occupation).
<? r. To carry pepper to India.
E, To carry coals to Newcastle.
C.-1 j Jiii
Pepper, though only a tiny thing?
Bites with a truly gigantic sting.
- 311 -
{ Lit. ) Don’t take notice of the small size of the pepperi
break it and see how biting it is.
E. E, ( a ) Still waters run deep. ( b ) A little body has
often a great soul.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. substitutes
“ how small it is ” for ^ “that (it) is small”.
L.. E. When the pot boils
over» it cools itself.
T, When the fountain has risen to its heights it falls again.
old* { A. ) t . There are calamities in delaying.
( Freely ) Delay ( or postponement ) causes many troubles.
E. E. (a) Delays are dangerous, (b) After a delay comes a stay.
‘ Js* F. T, The elephant dreams of
one thing! the elephant - driver of another.
cf, etc,
F. T, The elephant is valuable? whether alive or dead.
Note, ( 1 ) A variant form of this pvb. is aJij J.9
j*jd 6^jA J /. e. An elephant is an elephant? whether alive
or dead. ( 2 ) Some replace by 1000
tom^ns-i which nowadays is equal to 10)000 riB^Xs.
! ^Is^ 3 F, T. Giving an elephant to drink by a cup!
E. E. What is a crab in a cow’s mouth? Cf. also “ A hand¬
ful of grass for an elephant’s stomach”? which is of foreign
origin.
2^1 2^8
JT T. The elephant has remembered
India. (Cited in cases when a person feels homesick? or
cannot stay long in a new environment }.
2^8 * 2 ^
? Uii^er flob jbj etc.
2^ O 2^
o
Ij 5 ;l§ F. r. Till you know
how to mount) we won’t consider your horsemanship.
Notes, ( 1 ) The first part of the pvb. literally
means “ Hold the pommel ( firmly ). ( 2 ) A variant form
of £1* is
* b ^ ^ uiT C.)l) T. The judge who
takes bribe of fire cucumbers will prove that you own
Spannish pvb. «tLike the judges
o Galicia, who for half a dozen chickens will dispense
With a dozen penal statutes. ”
h*'’ ^ r T' ^ “®ked
o his father was, the mule said, The horse is my
ma eina uncle. ” ( An evasive answer given to conceal one’s
Jow ancestry }.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. gives for the
last part --lol...>L-l-NU orr ; . ,
• ,, • ■ saidi My maternal aunt
IS a mare.
I • I- I ^ O ^
yoa’ilt .'’ ‘ ‘r The more
more vou . ‘=°"'es out of it, and the
out o^ h “ the more money you can
conceal tlie’ 'm ^ "'i ‘hose who believe peasants
conceal thcir wealth, and only pretend to be poor).
A -r • - . * 3^
r "white o-f < 2 ZJ Li
sa.cal fruits, carpets mean accession to the throne, and
IOCS augur eing married to a man. { A series of dreams
- 313 -
and their interpretations according to the vulgar belief ).
When the festival
is over? a new suit loses its value. ( Lil, ) A robe coming
to hand after the festival is worthy of being hung on to
a minaret.
Note, By (festival) is usually meant the NowfooZj
or the New Year’s Day.
<2*.J Ifc ^ ^>! jf (bb L ) l5 I P.T. Father’s
tomb will not be built with trifles ( i. €. The accomplish¬
ment of every end requires proper means ). ( From the
anecdote of the two brothers who were trying to repair
their father’s tomb by making use of brick-bats? rubble*
and the like* but who did not succeed in finishing the job*
until the elder brother concluded that they would have
to resort to proper means* such as the use of bricks and
other substantial materials }.
^ Note, Dehkhodo, has for this the phrase
i. e. The tomb of His Excellency Eminence)
needs bricks and gatch ” ( Iranian plaster ).
2 ^ ■£> 2^8
jI ^0 f, T, To ascend the pulpit before the
judge ( €. to prejudge ).
j\ jrO T. “ What can an
old harlot do but repent of her misdeeds? ”
E. E. The Devil grew sick and a monk he would be,
bb ^ ' will never
appreciate having a father until one becomes a father.
Cf. the next entry.
lAwCfcji ^JJ jj T. The goldsmith knows
the value of gold* and the jewel - merchant that of jewels.
cf^ u; b ^ etc.
3^ o 3^
{ } jljT <-r jof^ jj 3
E. E, ( a ) Misfortunes tell us what fortune is. ( b ) We
- 314 -
never know the worth of water until the well runs dry.
( c ) Health is not valued till sickness conies. ( d ) Blessings
are not valued till they are gone.
P.T. He knows the value of prosperity who has suffered
an adversity. { From an anecdote? which is to be found in
the Golests^n of and which may be summarized as
follows ):
A king was once travelling in a ship? accompanied by hiS
slave? who had never before experienced the inconvenience
of a ship? and who was? therefore? weeping and showing
signs of restlessness. As they could by no means quiet the
slave? one of the passengers? who was a wise man? offered
to remedy the situation? if the king would allow him to
do so. When the king had expressed his anticipated thanks
to him? the wise man ordered the slave to be cast into
the sea. After he had suffered successive immersions?
the slave was seized by the hair and brought toward the
ship^s rudder? which he held fast with both hands. On
being brought onboard? the slave ever after held his peace?
and sat quietly in a corner.
When asked by the king what the secret of the mat¬
ter was? the wise man said? “ The slave had never suffered
the agony of drowningi so now he values the Safety of
the ship
? ^ P. P. An ass will never know the
value of almond - cakes. Cf, <>• etc.
P. P. Do not cast pearls before swine.
jjA 1. The hungry man knows the value
of bread.
P. P, { Safj^e us iof Lp ja* etc )
Jljj a«; c.**) JJA E. E. Blessings arc not valued till they are
gone. See also under ja; etc.
( A. ) F. r. Make sure of the
exit before you enter.
P. P. Look before you leap.
- 315 -
(li-*—) ^Le Ji jj J c—l jmj> ^ F. T. The Koran is
a matter of reciting wordS) while gold is a matter of life
and death. ( L,it, ) The Koran is on the tip of one’s tongue?
while gold is tied up to one’s life. ( From the following
anecdote hy Sa^di }:
The son of a wealthy miser fell ill. His well - wisher?
advised him to read the Koran through? or else to offer
up a sacrifice in order to effect the recovery of his son.
After thinking for a moment? the miser said? “ The first
alternative is preferable? for at present the flocks are out
of reach”. A wise man? being informed of the circumstances?
said? ‘‘The reason he chose to read the Koran through is that
it was merely a matter of reciting words? while the other
alternative involved the spending of money? which was a
matter of life and death
F. T. Good Heavens! How
can there be two kinds of weather over one roof? {Ffee 1 y)
Two atmospheres for the same sphere! (Cited in cases when
a person gives two different opinions on a matter under
equal circumstances. From the following anecdote ]:
A woman once invited to her house her married
daughter with her husband? and her married son with his
wife. After supper the invitees had to sleep on the house¬
top on two separate beds placed apart from each other.
In the middle of the night the hostess got up to spy
upon the couples. On approaching the bed on which the
daughter and her husband were sleeping? she noticed that
the couple were sleeping apart? so she awakened them and
said? “ The weather is rather cold? so you would better
hug each other more closely. ”
She next went to the other end of the roof and
noticed that her daughter-in-law was being closely hugged
by her husband. So she approached the couple and sa id?
“ The weather is not yet cold enough to allow you to sleep^
like that? you should better sleep apart from each other”.
Whereupon her daughter-in-law? who had been awake all
this time? and had heard what had been said on the other
end of the roof? exclaimed? “ Good Heavens! How car*
- 316 -
<here be two kinds of weather over the same roof? ”
Notes, ( 1 ) is a vulgar contraction of and
better suits the rythm of the pvb. (2) Sometimes the pvb.
is extended thus:
Ij j fL ( \j j
■ .r" O i
where the extension meanS) “ Cold weather at one end of
the roofiand hot weather at the other end. ” ( Here Cx is
a vulgar form of house-top or roof ” ).
^ ^ j olf ;?! 4r ^
P. i . Thanks God I do not possess an ass> or I should have
to provide it with straw and barley.
P. P. Much coin) much care.
o ^
k) aAO^ <iL> ^^9 F. T. Money borrowed for
the purchase of a house will be repaid by the aid of God.
(aiL,^<, i;) a*aj« las- \j F. T. Money
for marrying purposes will be repaid by the aid
[ A common belief which encourages marrying }.
2 ^ ■{> 2 ^
«Ui9 c-i ^4. jUy JUV a.-a irj> J F. T. when your
debts amount to 100 tomans (nowadays 1000 r/als ), you
may have every night delicious dishes for supper.
'■ '• < a ) !>' for a penny, in for a pound. ( b ) The deeper
in QeL>t> tJie more reckless,
■ is a rice dish containing chiefly minced
meat and split peas.
w- aj- <U-wJ 7 . A loan is a means provided by God
.jV=; P. T. Which shall I base myself
ZelToL
A man was running away with a cook which he had
stolen from a house, when he was overtaken and stopped
hy the owner of the cock. When told to return the bird,
he swore that he had not stolen it, whereas the cock’s tail
borrowed
of God.
- 317 -
was visible from under his coat? and could be seen by the
claimant. So the latter said? Which shall 1 base myself
on—your oath or the cock’s fail?”
The pvb. is cited when a peison makes a denial which
can be refuted by good evidence.
Ck -O' 3^
QjnJjb b b ( T/j/s is a P, version of
q. V. ).
^ jj-r* F. T. No man can take ( iit. eat ) ano¬
ther’s portion. ( A predestinarian belief }.
I . The butcher got up and the
dog sat in his place. ( Referring to a place or position
occupied by a poor substitute ).
j) cjK- 1> b jS^^> oTj <5b ^c>
F. T. Destiny will not change? even though one utters a
thousand cries and sighs in thankfulness or in complaint.
Cf, etc.
E. E. No use striving against Fate.
Note. In view of the fact that “ cries and sighs ”
do not logically suit the idea of “ thankfulness ”? I believe
S a'*di must have used some other word? serving as a
synonym of “ complaint ”? and must be a
• misreading of the unknown word.
3^ -a- 3^
JoLli F. T. The decree written by
Fate cannot be wiped out.
E. E. No use striving against Fate.
O*^ J- T. To carry a drop to the sea ( or
the Sea of Oman ),
E. E. ( Same as for o^y. ).
{ i-iji j-r
E, E. ( a ) Many a little ( Of pickle ) makes a mickle. ( b )
Penny and penny laid up will make many. ( c ) Little
drops make a shower. etc.
- 318 “
F. T. Drop by drop makes a sea.
jaI J.a5 i, The padlock is a test
whereby the legitimate and the illegitimate are known from
each other. ( It is only the virtuous who will abstain
from stealing} for a padlock can be broken by any one ).
-O' $
\JS"E. E. ( a ) The Devil is not half
so black as he is painted. ( b ) The lion is not half so
fierce as he is painted.
i. The pen is in the enemy’s hand. ( From a versified
anecdote in Sa di’s Boost which is summarized as follows}:
A certain man saw the Devil in his dream? and seeing
that he had a shining aspect and comely features? he
approached him with the question? “ Why do people
generally describe you as an ugly and hideous being? whereas
I notice you are so different from their description
“ The way I am depicted by your kind ”? answered the
Devil? “ does not represent my true nature? but it cannot
be helped, because the pen (or hair-brush) is in the
hand of the enemy. As I have driven the human beings
from Paradise, they are now trying to revenge themselves
on me by their contrary description. ”
E, E. ( a ) A man is only as rich
as he is contented, (b) The contented man is a rich man.
( c ) The greatest wealth is contentment with
{ d ) 1o be poor and contented is riches enough.
T. Contentment makes a man rich,
^ o
VI; F. One hump on top of another ( i. e. one dif¬
ficulty added to another). {From the iollowhtg a)iecciote\-.
One night a humphack entered a public bath) where
saw *1 numbet of genii dancing and making merry on
the occasion of a marriage ceremony. Rather than being
fii^htened by the siglit of the superhuman heingS) he> tooi
began to dance: and pretended that he was sharing their
joy. The genii were pleased with his behaviour, and com¬
pensated him by removing from his hack the hump, which
a little.
- 319 -
they afterwards put on a shelf.
The next day the rumour was spread in the town?
and another humpbacki who wished to be relieved of the
protuberance on his back) entered on another night the
Same public bath. This time the genii were having a
mourning party) but the humpback took no notice of it)
and springing in the centre of the party> began to dance.
The mournful genii were enraged by this untimely beha¬
viour) and punished the man by putting on top of his
hump the one that had been reserved by them on the
previous occasion,
^ {Same as )
Same as o—>» j J)
C-tP J J>9 r.. E. (a) He is a man of his word, (b) He
abid es by h is word,
i . His word and act are one.
Cr ^
ju F. T. Relatives may eat one another’s flesh) but
will not discard the bones. ( Stressing the sympathetic
feelings between relatives}.
? F, E. Do not cast pearls before swine.
F. T. The ass will never know tlie value of saffron.
cf, -a; ^ el c,
^ fire to a trading
centre for the sake of a handkerchief ( /. e, to commit a
gross crime on trivial motives) or for the sake of a small
personal gain). {From the lolloti^iyig afiecdot e
A hal)erdashcr had a shop boy who had fallen in love
with a woman. One afternoon wlicn he was about to close
the shop) the woman appeared) and) seeing no one in the
shop except her boy friend) pointed to a silk handkerchief)
whicli was hung on the wall) and asked hini whether she
could have it on his account. The shop boy could not
- 320 -
refuse the woman’s request? and gave her the handkerchief
free of cost.
After the departure of the woman? the shop boy
regretted what he had done? for he was sure he would be
asked to pay for it? though he could not afford to do so
on account of his insignificant wages. After much reflection?
the thought of burning down the whole shop occurred to
him? so he closed the shop after having left a live coal
among the haberdashery. In an hour or so? of course? not
only the haberdasher’s shop? but the whole arcade? in which
the shop was situated? was a victim of fire.
Note. < 1 ^ was a name given to a trading centre in
some of the towns of Iran? such as Tehran? Kashan? Shiraz?
etc. It means literally “ Caesarea ”? but it is doubtful
whether there is any connection between the two names.*
i . It IS not the cane that gives value to the sugar? but
the propery of the sugar itself.
* This proverbial phrase has bee
difference on page 6 1? but the Note
be amended on the basis of the one o
one given here.
n given with a slight
given there should
( a ) Half a loaf is better than no
bread. ( b ) Half an egg is better than an empty shell,
T. K^chi ( a dish of flour) sugar) fat) and spiceS) given
to parturient women ) is better than nothing.
^ote. is a contraction by the vulgar of -rf
jV P. T, There is no harm in being
overcautious.
Notes. ( 1 ) A variant form replaces by
^ut both of these words mean precautions or
preventive measures. ( 2 ) in colloquial P. mean
“ fast or firm Cf. the p. pvb . “ fast bind, fast find”,
which has a slightly different implication.
Work requires tools. {Referring
to means and ends }.
-o ssCs
E.E. Never put off till to-morrow
what you can do to-day.
E. Don’t put off to-day’s work till to-morrow.
0)1) jtr F, T. What has happened should not have hap¬
pened at all ( /. One should not grieve over the past ),
Cf. w^l atid the E. Let bygones be
bygones.
C^l 4)l^jK) vlf* F, T. The product is dearer in th#
factory. Cf. o-i <;UjL jL which is commonet,
E. H. Eggs are dearer in the country.
21
- 322 -
j jV E, E, ( a ) Every man to his trade.
( or job ). ( b ) Let the cobbler stick to his last, (c) A sow
to a fiddle!
T. An ape cannot do carpentry.
* $
( E. T, Don’t compare
yourself to the pious. {Said to one who makes false
comparisons ].
Cf, the E. to measure other people’s corn with one’s own
bushel.
C^1 f . The knife has reached the bone
I have» or such a one hasi been driven to extremities).
E. E, There is honour among
thieves.
T. The knife does not cut its own handle.
Note, Some people think this pvb. is connected
with or v' *jjS'
which means *‘The shoemaker’s wife goes the worst shod”,
F, T. You will not make him
bleed even by stabbing. ( Said of a very angry person or
one who is much upset about something },
vJ*^ Or F, T, It is a matter that concerns
the heart. Cf, jj <ro-l
E. E, Love is mad ( or blind ).
^ < 1 - 2 ^
I . T., Entrust the work to the workman
who is qualified for it. Cf, also lSjU: c_J <k^Ji
E. E, Every man to his job {or trade).
<v S^X
ij" f.u> <s:> I ? <r \j JS r. Who has done the work? He
who has finished it. ( Meaning that the person who finishes
the work gets the credit}.
E. E, The end crowns all.
0^0
-323-
CmmJ jlc T. There is no shame in work( ing ).
j>M A F. The work is done by the ass>
and the pack-horse eats the grass. {This refers to cases
when a man drudges for the benefit of another}.
F, T, There is nothing that is impossible.
Cf, the Ft, L’impossible n’existe pas.
Note. originally means “ It could not {or cannot)
be done’% but colloquial language gives it the meaning of
“ impossibility ” or “ the impossible
c—* Practice makes perfect.
F. T. To do a thing well necessitates repeating it frequently,
(iS-*-) Ji Oi JmJj U Affairs succeed
( Of Ends are attained ) by patience^ and the hasty person
falls headlong.
E. E. ( Same as for j ^ etc. ).
sJe * 3^
Lot ^ T. Affairs will turn well but by
patience. Cf, the preceding entry.
3^ * O
^ J i?
F. T. Not every goat is used to thresh in the harvests
It’s an ox and an old hardy man who’ll do that best.
E. E. (a) ‘ Tis not for every one to catch a salmon.
( b ) Every man to his trade ( or job ).
wUr 43 jw 43 wiy ^ ^
F. T. In doing a pious act? ensure that neither the spit is
burnt nor the roast meat ( /. c. take care to harm no one).
Cf. the E. Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
3^8 * aCt
CfjJ^ ^ F. E. As the old cock crows* so does
the young one.
T. Do what your father used to do.
J.. ' ^
- 324 -
U lC *J j>1 h U C** T. The eyel>ro,w6 will not dd what -^
the eyes can.
E, B, Every man to his trade ( or job),
Note, The first hemistich to thi8> which seems to Imb
unconnected with it in meanings is ^1 j
/. A dog will not smell a burnt bone.
r. A business-man is loved; by God. . .j
^ A bowl hotter than the soup it contains.
Cf, L• ■ ■*
{ a ) More Catholic than the Pope. ( b ) More royalis*
tic than , the king.
^ote, A variant form of this metaphor is cr
^ o ^
miz:j F. T. If the mistress of the
house breaks a bowlr it makes no noise ( /. ^. it doesnU
matter ). Cf, (*ru etc.
0^j\ To carry bowls to China.
E, E, ^ ^n}}ie ns for *./* -^)
Cl 3^ . _
jjl ( ) 4S~ <-(5” E. E. ( a ) One good turn
deserves another. ( b ) He that asketh a courtesy promiseth
a kindness. ''
T. The bowl goes where it can fetch a larger one.
C* ■» Ct ■
bUiCjA tji.^
F. 1. The sound of a china ( or porcelaine f bowl shows
its quality. Cl, oj^. j\ etc. and • see the ,E, E.
for it, . ■ ' ' . .
tS tj F. r. Xhe. man from
breaks the bowl, but the man from Ghom makes
good the damages. [ Referring to a state. of affairs whert *,
injustice and confusion prevail ).
wUO ^lo \j <iL^ E, r. The dish
given ^
. la
' j * t
r
riO'-X '^^*1
.y.
sent By a neighbour does' not satisfy you? but increases
good will.
E. Small presents keep up friendship.'
- ;t •.‘ . - 0 - ‘O' ‘ M 1
c«il <Ud i) .flits' See Note under ^ b r , . ’
■ - ■ ■ ' . ■ ■ • 358 -O' . 1 •■ ■' ;
CiNtl 4 a^ *.^1$^ F, T. A letter is half as good as seeing
the sender.
^ ‘ 1 * ' ' ■ ^ y ^ *
<’ ^ <y ,
ij F. T. The infidel thinks every
r J . i ,]i . t ^ ^ '
'“One else is an 'infidel, f Cited in all cases when' riien'fancy
a * p .
others to be of their opinio‘ns> or to share -their circum¬
stances. For example? we 'may cite this pvb. ^hen we wish
to say? “He who is warm thinks all are so. V }.
'* ■" O'-O- 35? ' ' '
wXj ^Vir F. T. Bad ware ( or poor merchandise )
comes back to the merchant .
0 - 0-258
OhA ^Jy VOi) Oi-UmJ ^ unripe fruit in
hand is better than a ripe one .out of reach.
Cf. -u; etc.
Note. The beauty of the P. lies in the pun on the
* word which has the double meaning of “ ripe ” and
• **reached/’) the idea being that you can hardly say a thing
is f 'tpe unless it has reached you.
0*0
c-j :»1 C-J (/*')> jl oir T. The corn-bin is yours?
though the corn is not ( /. c. The stomach is yours?
though the food is your host's ). ( A statement against
over - eating
Note, literally means a straw-rick.
0*0
JO J*^ ^ Ji vib fj F. T. Bid the lazy man
to do a single piece of work? and he will give you a
hundred pieces of advice. ( This advice is to show that
what he is told to do needs not he done }.
0*0
C-I T. Laziness is infidelity ( or impiety ).
326 -
( Freely ) Being idle is as bad as worshipping an idol.
* * 2^8
<*»;) V'M* meat on the spit will
not be cooked unless it is turned. ( Alluding to travelling
which makes a person experienced). Cf, jh-i efc.
Note, means literally *‘cooked *’> and figuratively
“ experienced
J Pride is detestable*
and more so if it is displayed by a beggar.
F, E, ( a ) Poor and proud? Fy* fy! ( b ) Pride and poverty
are ill met) yet often together.
<8 *
^ O ^y. y.:) h jiJ-. ^
E, E. ( a ) The cat shuts its eyes while it steals cream.
( b ) The ostrich hides its head in the sand.
T, The partridge hides its head in the snow in the belief
that others will not see it.
:»b U {) E.E. ( a ) Birds of a feather
flock together. ( b ) The goose goes with geese. ( c ) Like
likes like.
T. The pigeon flies with pigeonS) and the hawk with hawks.
Note. Th e second ( od according to some textSi the
first ) hemistich to this is 31 jJi' / e Birds
of the same kind fly together.
^ O
F, T, A bird worth only a
few pence is not expected to utter “ yakareem .
Notes, ( 1 ) ( 100 din&TS ) is now equivalent
to one r/a^j hut before the present monetary system came
into use, it amounted to one - tenth of a krskfh which has
now been replaced by f/a /. ( 2 ) means “ O Great Of
Generous ( God ) , and it is supposed that pigeons of a
certain breed utter a cry resembling this phrase.
? 2 , Must the labourer bring his own tools
{Nt, moitai - board)! {Cited in similar cases or when a person
is expected to do a piece of work ) in addition to what
- 327 -
is required by his proper duty
Notes, ( 1 ) Some people think that the custom of
requiring a labourer to bring his own tools was introduced
. in which explains the reason why Dehkhoda has
an item reading AJUd (2 ) is originally
the plural of doer or agent ”> but in modern collo¬
quial P. it has come to mean menial labour employed in
building work. It is also used as singular.
<5" \p6 1 S What is a happy
place.^ That in which one is happy. ( M-ore iteely ) It is
a pleasant place which pleases ( Of gladdens ) the heart.
jljA J T. Tilt ( the cup ) but don’t spill its contents.
(Phrase often used as an adverb or adjective meaning
in a middling position) so-soi a.so) within judicious
bounds ”.
T. His good voice makes up for his
bald head. See explanation of on page 133,
Ij U oz P. T, Oil the headman’s palm)
and plunder the village.
Note. ( or ) means figuratively
“ to grease or oil some one’s palm
£. ( a ) The owner has one house)
the renter has a thousand. ( b ) Rent a house and have no
responsibility.
T. The renter is ( like ) a colonist.
b oljtj ^JT* E, E. Give him an inch)
and he’ll take an ell.
E. T. Allow a Kurd to enter) and he will come in with
his shoes. Cf. jj etc.
Notes. ( 1 ) A i^ufd is a native of Kurdist^ny a
western province of Iran. ( 2 ) is a kind of shoe
consisting of a piece of hide and a few thongs—something
- 328 -
like a moccasin. ( 3 ) It was not polite for one. to ' enter a
« room ^with his shoes on. * . .
jO F,,T, He regrets who has done iti
*' while he who has not done it yearns to do it, ( Cited in
similar cases? and-^'especially? though in jest? in -speaking
' of marriage}.
E. E, It is like a cage?-the birds without yearn ..to come
in ? those within desire to escape.
\ _ • 8^ -O $ , ■ . .
E. H. As you sow? so shall you reap.
E^T. Your deed goes before you.
^ F . T, It' is the ( rotten ) tree
itself that gives birth to the worm (/. e. We are shot with
our own arrow ). Cf. si—c—U j|
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
A bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush. Cf. ,*iC Jji. etc. and -Ai etc.
i . A worm in my hand is better than a crane in the air.
>> T. It is from asininity
that the ass’s foal goes before its mother. {The fool proudly
occupies the seat of honour }.
Cs <3“
c ^ E. E. To throw a sprat to catch a
mackerel ( hcrring> whale ),
F' To offei a foal and ask for a camel.
^ O ^
money? while those
jvXi I bXi 1 ^ « ^.^>4 m
^' Those who are gcn'*rous^have ■€
who are rich have no generosity.
5£s ■a- 8^
0-1 <l> 1
(Vj
p. T. Thescorpioa was asked, Why ion’t you appear in
- 329 -
winter?” ye said? “ What honour do I receive in summer?
that I should come out in winter also?”
^ o
ai te Jii jj 4s. u jutoJiOi-j (j jb 4r^ur
P. T. I know not what harm has been found in doing good
by those who have chosen to do evil!
F,T, None has ever been
harmed by foresight ( or anticipation ).
3^: * 2^
^• God befriends those who are forlorn.
2^ ■tJ’ 2^
<rj <r4rjbii <=.^ f. t. who knows
who is beautiful? and who ugly? behind a curtain?
3^ -O' 2^
jV fkUJI 4r C-.J ^3jdj ij ^
T. No one knows what
the end will be.
^ • ** o*'® can seize
fortune’s skirt by force.”
£. £. No use striving against Fate.
Note, The second hemistich to this is
lSj^, I ^ j c.*-) o.ii ^jLj,jS' q
^ ^1) CaA)
F. T. None will scratch my back better than ( lit. except )
my own finger-nails. {Stressing independence and self-
rel iance ).
Note. The poet Sa^tii has put this thought in the
folio wing verse:
/. e. No one who pretends to look after me will ever
scratch my back like my own finger-tips.
2^ -cj
j* ^ 14 ) F, No one will conceal his ailment
from the physician. { It is most advisable to make a clean
chest of it ).
- 330 -
J^J <r JiJ^ E,E, ( a ) Every cook
praises his own broth. ( b ) No fish-seller cries stinking fish.
Note, is indeed churned milk* which is more or
less sour.
F. T, No son is his father
over againV he is either better or worse.
No one will bring ( the
provision ) after youi send it in advance yourself. {Refer¬
ring to good deeds who pave the way to the other world}.
Note. The first hemistich to this is
^iji- JjCt tlT ^
A
Send forth to your grave some provision for the
futurity.
^<> Lli C'Jlc \jA <r ^ (j^
T. No One learned archery from me> who in the end did
not make a target of me,
E, E. I tauglit you to swim? and now youM drown me.
One makes war against the
meek ( or lowly ).
Note, The first hemistich to this is
•j)31 c—1
/. e. Sahli is lowly ( and ) free from care.
(ti-**-) 0^4?" J fij) 4)L- jiy wuL)
• F. No one would seek the shadow of the owl) even if
the hof/^ny vanished from the earth.
Note, or in modern P. is the owl) which was
regarded as a bird of ill omen. The hof?igiyy on the contrary)
whicli some translators have identified with the osprey
( or ), hut which seems to be altogether
fabulous^ was considered to be a bird of good omen.
F' E. No one knows the weight of
another’s burden. Cf, also Every one knows best where
- 331 -
his shoe pinches.
fcX-l) 4 lw(a) ij jA 4^C 45-^
P. P. He grieves most at the death of his wife who has
no sister - in - law.
Mote, In Iran when a man’s wife dies the sister of
the deceased is considered to he the hest replacement.
3^ O $
ij <C*«*5* T. He who has Been
Burnt By Boiled milk? Blows the doogh Before drinking it.
See ( doogh ) under ^ etc,
E, E, ( Same as for etc, )
2^ -O' O
? aj" j&i, u aj" u:» Ajp- ajLc i_» T. If a man
commits adultery with his mother? imagine what he would
do to others!
352
-9 a-oir :»! oU>6> ^^t-T F. T. He who
enters a tavern must expect to Be fleeced. Cf. the E. ex¬
pression to count the cost.
O c«l6 fcAiU F. T. He who wants
to have a rose must put up with ( the reproach of )
the thorn.
E. E. No pains? no gains.
2^3 * 2^2
aiC^ (j Jj( jj:»aj« jU ASC^ T. He who steals the
minaret must first dig a pit to hide it in. Cf , -Ujjl etc,
E, E. You are a fool to steal? if you can’t conceal.
50s <3- 2^
<UmI) The cobbler’s shoes have no heels.
L. E. ( Same as for j\ etc, )
cA 4 ^j> c.fl?' F. T. i do n’t want your presence?
and I won’t stand your nonsense.
Mote. originally means ** Your shoes are put
together in readiness for you to wear them.” The expression
is very common? and means “to show
- 332 -
some one the door”.
« ^8
4
'■ -P. T. The shroud-snatcher? though he is not, frightened
at night at the sight of the dead? is afraid in daytinfi'e of
> the living. . * " '
O-
Jl)JU jrj«* liJj ■>* P, T, Since the
crow had young ones? she never ate her fill of any food.
■»" 8^ V ;
^Mr E. E. A little bird told me so.
T. The crow gave me the information ( lit. brought the
news to me),
: ■ ' ■ - 0 - 3 ^-
^attempt to learn the strutting of the
partridge the crow forgot its own manner of walking.
E. E, Every man to his trade. ,
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
m
t. In an attempt to learn grazing the crow forgot how
to fly.
j> oJU P. T, The crow was
claiming to be a surgeon? while its guts were fallen out of
its belly.
E. E. ( Same as for /\ J etc. )
^ o ^
jM E. The crow does not caw
on top of its Own nest ( /. e. One should not? or does not?
curse one’s relatives ).
Jf E, E. Physician? heal
thyself.
E. Were the bald man a physician? he would cure his
Own head.
O o o
- 333 -
( A. ) T, The words of kings are the
kings of words {or Kings’ words are king-words)-
o-
oMr £. E. To rob Peter to pay Paul.
T. To put Taghi^s hat on Naghi^s head.
make a judge of
one’s hat (/. to talk to oneself* judge for oneself ).
O *
^jMt ^ I O eMT* T. The bald man’s
hat was carried away by water? so he said that it was too
big for his head. Cf, etc,
sC^ o O
'Jf (A.) Same as ^ q,v,
'jf ( A. ) A tall man has short wits.
(Lit.) Every tall man is a fool.
Note. This is part of the tradition
^ VI JS'j •VI ^1 ^ y
which is believed to have been descended from the Prophet?
and which means “ All tall men are fools except Omar-,
and all short men are seditious except
4i';i Jf See Note under v>j-I js'
C*«<t uXiin 0 who throws clods
of earth deserves to be hit with stones. Cf, As you sow?
so shall you reap? and also Tit for tat.
^^ C»t*Ur E. E. The gallows groans for you.
T. Your head smells of ghormeh ~ sahzi^^~ kind of stew
with vegetables? eaten with boiled rice.
<s ^
{Same as etc.? except
that “ butcher ” has been replaced by Ji ^ “ one
who prepares and sells sheep’s head and trotters ” ).
^ o ^
? 4 Af T. When the kallepaz
- 334 -
goes bankrupt} he paints his shop. ( See Ji
preceding entry ).
( a ) The deeper in debt? the more reckless. ( b ) In
for a penny) in for a pound.
^who
habitually eats the head of fish will find it everywhere,
H. E, The opium-smoker will always find opium.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is
c.«»l ^ J3^
sS -0- 2^
( A. ) F. T. It is most generous to be
generous with what one has.
<tr JUT
T. The companion's virtue took effect on mej otherwise
I am the very clay that I was.
E. E. A man is known by the company he keeps,
■^3^, J3^ ^ Eat little and you will eat long.
8^8 <3- SSt
■^^31'^ *SA ^ O?" There were few genii
and fairies {ironical), so another spirit jumped down from
the wall. Cf, ^ etc.
cT^ .>< jT ^ j ^ j ^ T. Eat little, say little,
and do little harm.
__ sSs -tj- O
OJ?- oM f J ^ F. T. Let your words
be few and select as unique pearls.
3^ 3;K
A ^ o^r See under Jyf b etc.
SS8 2^8
^ 4j oir^r* T. Better short and wise
than tail and foolish.
E. E. Precious goods are contained in small parcels.
^ o ^
J E. E. He who hangs up his
- 335 -
fiddle when he comes home.
He who darkens his house and brightens the streets.
Sse \ etc, and tbs l^ot6 appended theteto.
<f fjp- jf jjV T. What does
the blind man desire from God? Two clear eyes, A
platitude referring to a self-evident wish).
3^ -a-
f>Uw jIjiU T. Blind in the market - placei and
scald - headed in the public bath. {Said of one who is
disgraced and hated by all ).
CaM* U*> jjT T. The blindman is clear-sighted about
his own affairs.
^( One ) who is blind about his
own affairs* but can see those of others. Cf,
^ f ^^^93 O JjT T. A blind man does not need a
lamp. Cf, <SJ\^ <iT etc, Cf, the E. A blind man
will not thank you for a looking-glass.
^8 * 8 ^
E. E. A wool-seller knows a wool-buyer.
T- • May the shopkeeper become blind who does not know
his customer.
Note. A Variant form of this pvb. is jjS'
where means “ person with whom
one has to deal,
■{> 2^8
b O*} \j Jjy The blind ( naturally )
find the blind* as water finds a ditch. Cf, J^ etc.
E, ( a ) Birds of a feather flock together.
( b ) Like likes like.
( c ) The goose goes with geese.
fl- 3^
lij) 4S^ E. T, The blindman
thinks that he who can see is eating with both hands.
{ Cited in cases when one ignorantly imagines that others
are trampling on his rights ).
- 336 -
fflb Asto- VJ ^U? AJh <Slf JA -J.
T. .The blindman thinks others have iii their sacks what
* I '
he has in ‘his owii. . . - ■
358 -O 235
^1^15 ji <) Blin'dness-is better than ignorance.
a5« * 35?
a'j> j-Ta ^SJJ^ ^JjS" F. T. It- is the blind
leading the blind.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. reads
AJ> ^A Jjf jjtTUac ( Ojjj k ) jSi iSJJ^
/. e. See how one blind man is leading another.
35t o 35s
V ^ ^ * * “^ ‘* ^E, ( a ) The shoernaker^s
wife ( or the cobbler’s family ) goes the worst shod.
( b ) The tailor’s wife goes the worst clad. •
T, The potter drinks from a broken jug.
358 ■o 358
f * ^ T, A new jug keeps
water cool ( only ) for two days. Cf, tSy etc,
E, E. A new broom sweeps clean.
258 358
^ jl E^, I have lived too . near a
wood to be frightened by owls.
t. Koyal drums (lit, drums of Ng^der-^Shah ) have been
beaten on my back. ( From an anecdote similar to that
given for —I 277.}.
d ^ T, The thin - bearded
man went to get a beards but lost his moustache.
Cl, etc, and See the E, E. given for oi etc,
f * .. 258 -O' sS
7 . A thin-bearded man with a bushy
beard! ( Kef erring to contraries or paradoxes}
E. E, Contraries do not meet.
358 O 258 .'
(^^-} jjf j ^ j ^
effoit to apply indigo to the eyebrows of a blind person.
Note. The first hemistich to this .is
- 337 -
? iSJjli T- No use taking an
effort when fortune does not befriend one.
Cf. ^ etc.
E. E. It is better to be lucky than wise.
O S»8
} c-< ^ u T. Dry bread is ( as good
as ) pounded meat for one who is knocked up.
E. E. Hunger is the best sauce? and fatigue the best pillow.
Notes. (1 ) which literally means “ empty
bread and which has here been rendered “ dry bread ’%
is used in P. literature to mean bread with nothing
else to eat it with In modern colloquial P. this would
be 0^ or ? as »3'^ { Turkish word ) is any¬
thing that is eaten with bread? irrespective of cooked food?
or what the Americans call “ spread ( 2 ) There is a
pun on the word which? in the above hemistich? means
once a knocked up pet^oni and the second time pounded
meat made into balls . Ct. the E. word “ rissole ”.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
F. T. The dish of a neighbour has
got goose eggs in it. { has been explained in the
preceding entry}. Ct. etc.
^ ^ ^ * ‘ is the mountains
that do not move to help one another? but one man surely
comes to the help of another.
? oa il) JiU J Ji, Ojf P. I . Can a hurricane ever
move a mountain?
i
To dig a mountain and produce
a mouse.
*
E. E, The mountain was in labour? and brought forth
a mouse.
<s
^ ji O P. P. Manly vigour is of no
use to him whose fortune is reversed.
22
338 -
C/. ^ €tC. Uhd' €tC, -■'
■■■•■’ <t ^
^ j^ The bay is no' worse than the grey
F
( i, e. One is no less than the other ). ' •
*'2^
(li-w) CJ jlc <0 ’
P. T. Better mend up one’s own ragged clothes than Bor¬
row others’ garments.
E. E, ( There is ) nothing like leather.
JUa- under etc.
2^ -O' 2^
^ji It useless to play
the lute to a deaf man.
F. F. One can never play a harp to a deaf man.
o ^
^ ^ j F. T. Who will bell the
cat? ( From the famous fable of the mouse that proposed
the fastening of a bell round the cat’s neck }.
F. 7. “When? ” is a question of the Devil.
{ Said in reply to one who asks “ When will such and
such a thing be done ? ” and intended to mean “ Things
will be done in due course
7 . To have a flea in one’s breeches {i. e.
to have an apprehension or disquietude ).
^ jtj^ F. 7 . Who has died that you haveT
become dear? (Said to a person who* unduly considers
himself honourable}.
<l9l> <;(>- jail <ij( Je^y, <U^
i . The alchemiit dies of grief and pain! (wliile ) the fool
finds a treasure in a ruin. "*
Li?
J fjj r. In leaving your linen with
the washer - man? you have already given him a pledge.
} jVj\ 4) jjKi j:> J jlP
T. Oxen and asses which bear loads are better than men
who torment their fellows.
^ir 0 J[r P. T. Oxen and
cows? fighting with each other? cause only the calves to
perish. { Children are in danger when parents quarrel }.
o
J LS-? T, A cow without horns and tail ( /.
a fool ). { Also f-s J J> J.
aSg <3> 3^
T, The cow with a white forehead,
£. (a person ) as well-known as the village - pump.
^ O ^
A cow which eats every grass ( /. One
who likes everything which is edible? or who eats the good
with the bad indiscriminately ).
s3j^ P. P. Not to know a B from a bull’s
foot.
t. Not to know a cow and an ass apart.
Note. A variant from of this pvb. is Ij J ^
j*-A 31
20^ <3- O
I*. Our cow has had a calf ( /. we have
been faced with a new trouble or expenditure ).
Note. This ph rase is susceptible of grammatical
- 340 -
changes i thus) one may say j .
tXj> ^Ir* F. T. The cow being dead* the calf severs
its relation ( /. The death of a relation severs a relation¬
ship by marriage ).
{ \ ^ F, T. The cow
gives good milk? but kicks over the pail. C Said of a person
who has taken pains on a piece of work? but brings it to
a bad conclusion ).
joj> ijjjbji laiiu ATa-lf olf®
E. E, A blindman may sometimes shoot a crow.
r. A stupid boy may happen to hit at random a target
.with his arrow. [ From the following anecdote in the book
of Golestsin <) which is refashioned as follows}:
A certain king possessed a ring in which there was a
very precious stone. One day when he had gone out for
an excursion in the country? he came to a mausoleum
surmounted by a dome. He ordered his men to put the
ring on the top of the dome? whereafter he proclaimed
that whoever should put an arrow through the circle of
the ring? the costly ornament should be his. The sharp¬
shooters? who were in attendance on the king? discharged
their arrows? but they all missed.
At th is juncture a little boy was shooting arrows
in all directions on the roof of a caravanserai? and it so
happened that one of his arrows was carried by the wind
through the circle of the ring. He received a robe of
honour? as well as the promised ring? but soon after he
burnt his bow and arrow. When asked why he had done
this? the boy replied? “ In order that the initial honour
may remain intact ”.
F. T. Now singing? now dancing? now appealing to God?
now invoking the Prophet.
F. F. By hook or by crook? by fair means or foul.
-341 -
IjI derived f rom the A. “ performance
means originally the performance of a musical composition?
and which literally means “ elements ’% is a kind of
tune designed for dancing. But and have come to
mean? in modern colloquial Persian? mimicry ? and J
means to make grimaces or pull a wry face.
45 **^
T, Sometimes he passes through a needle’s eye? and
sometimes he does not pass through the town-gate.
E, He strains at a gnat and swallows a camel.
NoU^ The “eye” of a needle is alfo called OJj*' ?
2^2 < J - 2^2
(<0 Ijl^ !ji^ F. T. When a beggar begs of another?
God pity him!
Note. The word ^ seems to have been improperly
used here for j' . But folklore has actually used it? and
there is no tampering with folklore.
Ijkr* T. The beggar knows who the
miser is.
2 > *
^ ^ jA^ ^ 'E. So long as there is
bread before the beggar? he can’t get to sleep. { This is
because he is so greedy that he wants to eat all he has).
2 ^ * 2 ^
Jj F. Give him an inch
and he will take an ell.
F. T. If you give the beggar too much freedom ? he will
become your landlord. Cf . \j etc.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces
by L c. a relative.
1 hAiiAr* Ivtr** SAtue as
a:ur MC etc.
2 ^ * 2 ^
JUU ^ F. T. They are collecting ( or arresting )
the beggars. { Said to one who has vain hopes? and intended
- 342 ”
to mean ** There is no hope”},
ae? * c? • •
ju J?! <t> ^Uof wiAji T. The beggar who
makes a good end is better then a king who finishes ill.
c^! <iU-j jtr . Begging needs no capital ( of requires
no investment of capital ). t Said to a beggan. or in reply
to one who shows surprise as to why a person begs }.
^bJL> . The hide will one day
happen to visit the tannery. C You may expect to get ( or
fall) into my clutches some day}.
Note. may be replaced by which is more
literary or bookish,
^ o ^
^ T. The days are past when
the Arabs taunted the Persians.
E. E, ( a ) That is all past and done with.
( b ) It is quite another story now.
8^ -O- O
'E, There is no revocation of a concession,
( One should not call back what one has granted ( Of
conceded ) ),
( best ).
Jto .«
T, One’s past records introduce him
O “O'
{t^<^} <r ^jji
E. . If intellect itself disappeared from the earth’s wide
Surface > no one would think himself a fool.
o ^
^ • The 1 eg of a locust is a heavy
burden for the ant.
C—X j) J-i.) JT T, If you are not above
yourself when you come upon fortune? then you are a
true man.
- 343 -
j> Ji) £. E. Foxes) when
they cannot reach the grapesi say they are sour.
T. The cat) when it cannot reach the meat) says it stinks.
jutT^ oyb b ^ oi jUij) jjh h
T, No matter which way you fling a cat) it will light on
its four legs. ^
E. E. He is like a cati fling him which way you will) and
he will light on his legs.
Note. This pvb. is often extended by saying >
^--1 etc.) ^ he is like MortaZ-AW's cat)
etc.) being a typical name.
T. The cat is a lion in catching a mouse) but 'She is a
mouse when confronted with a leopard, Cf. etc,
E. E. Every rogue is at length outrogued.
^ A )^ T, The hungry cat dreams of
fat ( iit. suet ).
E. E. ( Same as for )
T. If the lowly cat had wingS) she would root out the
breed ( of seed ) of sparrows from the eaith.
Cf. cA etc.
2 ^ * 20?
t J jb uUAto <} jf T. The cat changes
her young ones’ nests seven times.
have nine lives.
T. A cat has seven lives.
ji*-* ^ jT T . The cat dreans all night of
fat {lit. the sheep’s fat tail )-
E. E. {Same as for <rH
2 ^ -a- O
^ etc, )
“ 344 -
t^**--} ^5i^*a j Ji ji <r c.-^ ^T
7*. If you find it possible) make some one’s mouth sweeU
it is no manliness to strike a blow at one’s mouth.
oy. ^ ^ defy any one to do as much.
F. T, If you can play better? take the instrument and
proceed with playing.
»i,Xl I ^ ^
r "J ^mS*jl> wtiLi
T. Though silver and gold come from the rock) yet it is
not every rock that yields silver and gold.
Though no one will die before his appointed time) go
you not into the dragon’s jaws. C', etc,
OJ^nT <3:) I jIt <r J*
. Should the order go forth to arrest drunkards) they
have to arrest the whole town.
^ O
[ a— :>j*^ J j cjS"^^jT" T, A village
having two headmen is sure to be ruined.
E. E. { Safne as for Uj.> -iT <*.L.U etc, )
^ o ^
c—l vib ^
{ l5-u- ) <r ^Sj ^ 5 b
i . Should there be a single lancet in the town? it will
prick the foot of him who is the most defenceless.
C f .>J *:t~* <Z —, tdC—
^ o ^
. - Kely not on your father’s fame? be your own father)
if you are a true man.
2 ^ ■{> 8^
^ E. r. He who does not covet {or
demand ) anything can hold his head up.
- 345 -
J :>t 4r 4» j ,jt*r jjvij/’
T. It is better to change one’s religion than to forfeit
one’s word.
jij <) (a) God tempers the wind to
the shorn lamb. ( b ) God sends cold after clothes.
T, Xhe mace is fit for the hero ( Of champion ).
^ Jjji If moneyi you
have no need of force.
E. E, Money makes the mare go.
Note, The first hemistich to this is
i. e. Without money you cannot use force on any one.
2 ^ O'
OJUftJU
A versified variant of the pvb. at the bottom of
page 247 }.
^
jOI Give a dog a bad name
and hang him.
F. E. He who intends to harm will find plenty of excuses.
yS^J> ^
^L«C) J yj^
7 . If stones were all rubies of BudakbSb^tit the value of
a stone and of a ruby would be the same.
Note, ( Badakhslo^n ) is a place between
KbofaSSa^ and India> noted for its rubies.
^ o ^
a ->ji ■>' T- Love goes
away when hunger appears.
^:;U I^iT f" T, By using patience you may
make sweetmeat from unripe grapes.
E. E. ( Same as for >b j etc.)
Note. Some people have extended this pvb. to j^ead
I j)o ojjt:; yS^SJ ^ J*f^
i. e. By using patience and avoiding haste » tue day will
- 346 -
coine when you can make sweetmeat from unripe grapes.
But .the extended variant is not to be preferred> as. it has
neither rime nor beauty.
vU F. T, If one is ready to bear
a burden? why not bear that of a beauty?
( juT jb jA
T. If one were to open up the ashes of the dead? he would
not ( be able to ) distinguish the rich man. from the poor.
E. E. Death and the grave make no distinctions of persons.
O jF' A wolf which has (often) been drenched
by rain.
{ a ) One who is tried by experience and inured
to hardships. ( b ) A cunning rogue. ( c ) An old fox who
understands a trap.
i'j) pM-l ^CiJ lap ^
i . Were a beggar to lead the army of [slam? the infidels
would flee as far as China through fear of his soliciting
something.
^ 4) IpcaZv^ ^wtT' jf' F, T, If the beggar
gets nothing through laziness? that is no fault of the
house - holder.
sjg o tjg
( *'* ) Wolf in sheep’s clothing.
( b ) A wolf in the lamb s skin. The oiiginal has ewe
for sheep or lamb. ).
oJiJM r. The wolf whose
^®^th is tainted with blood? but who has not devoured
Joseph ( e, a guiltless person suspected because of an
evil appearance ).
Note. This pvb. alludes to the tradition that Joseph’s
brothers told Jacob that Joseph had been devoured by
a wolf.
- 347 “
wf'y® T, It is auspicious to see
a wolf*) but more auspicious to avoid seeing it.
Jli j OAuA C* I yi 4**^ J The wolf and the lamb
{ lit. ewe ) drink at the same place. ( Cited at a specified
period when absolute peace prevails }.
C--**) 4i**i ^ uJ *jT T. The wolf is always famished.
( Freely ) The greedy is always needy.
oJjb ^ ^ • If you love
your mother) do not abuse mine ( i. Do not do to others
what you would not have others do to you ).
I . If such is the king and such the state of affairS) I will
give thee a hundred thousand ruined villages such as this.
{ From a versified story by Nezsi^ni-y which may be summa¬
rized as follows }:
A male owl) who was seeking the hand of a female
one in marriage) was told by the latter’s parents that he had
to settle upon the bride a landed estate consisting of a
ruined village. The inalo who was aware of the tyranny
of the reigning king) answered* “ If such is the king* and
such the ruinous state of affairs* I will give you a hundred
thousand ruined villages. ” ( The injustice and tyranny of
the king caused the villages to be ruined }.
wCLi jT T. If it were
not for the fear of dying* life would not be difficult.
y> ^ iSij^ under f
J
T. If the ( eye of the ) bat cannot see in the day-time*
* an old superstition
- 348 -
that is no fault of the sun.
'T, An angel) associating with a fiend) will learn ferocity)
treachery) and fraud.
E, E, ( a ) Who keeps company with a wolf will learn to
howl. ( h ) He that lies down with dogs must expect to
rise with fleas. ( c ) Evil communications corrupt good
• manners.
/. If the minister feared God as he does the king) he
would he an angel.
Note. The beauty of the P. lies in the word )
which) when pronounced maleky means “king”) and when
pronounced tnalaky means “ angel ”.
258 * sSs
^ w^c Abaft J ^J^tb f
T. li you have one virtue and seventy defect?) he who
loves you will see nothing hut that one virtue.
E. E. Faults are thick where love is thin.
AO^A ^ Ij ^
T. Why undo a knot with the teeth) when it can he undone
hy the hand.''
Cl. the E. Gentle means are best and Don’t look ' for
dilficulties where there are none.
Note, This has also been fashioned into a regular
hemistich) tnus =
I-a; j j 13T 1^ -b LiC o —js »^
which means “ Why should one injure one’s teeth) when
a knot can he undone by one’s handr”
jB” Jj&( F. T. When the parly
with whom one has to deal is amenable) the affair is easy.
Note, The nietreless variant
is of frequent usage.
^ o ^
- 349 -
c-IJj J T, Tears remedy every
irremediable ailment.
35s^* ^
C**«l 2 ®^^^ Tears in season are
better than laughter cut of season.
\j oJU3- J O Aj^ F. r. Weeping is not
occasioned but by a heartache) and laughter but by a song.
Note. 3b- originally means a musical instrument)
especially a stringed one) and by extension) a musical
performance.
<3-
^ woman’s trick is her tears.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces by
fi-J /. e. “ snare
2^ O O
} (3' J- O- J>. Cj'->
T. Said the Prophet) “ Should you knock at a doon some
one’s head will finally come out of that door.
E. E. ( Same as ^or cSy 31 etc, )
sC^ O
F, T. Listen eagerly to what a learned doctor sayS) though
his acts be not like his words.
E. E, Do as the priest sayS) not as he docs.
jt J >1 T. The rose comes from
the thorn) and Abraham springs from Azar. Cf. etc,
Note, Azar is the name of Abraham’s father) accor¬
ding to the Mohammedans) although the Biblical name is
Terach. However) the two names are believed by some to
have a common linguistic origin.
^ flower is more comely when
it goes with the vase.
JO^ jA Ingenious ( or ta¬
lented ) people^ are world’s thornless roses.
- 350 -
There is no rose without a thorn.
-a- sjt
c)^ ^•. perfect rose is God. Cf,
Jli ^ c«l> Jx® F.T, The rose-leaf looks the same on
both sides. ( Complimentary remark to one who sits with
his back to another) and who apologizes on that account).
^ man and wife are
made of the same clay. ( Lit, ) The clay of a man and his
wife has been mixed in the same bin. Cl, c —jbci lai. etc.
Notes, (1) A variant form of this pvb. reads
31 \J <3^
m _
The clay of a man and wife has been taken out of
the same bin. (2) means originally a kneading-trough?
and hence we might freely say» “ A man and wife have
been kneaded together ( or in the same vessel ).”
^ o ^
C. The pick of the basket.
A * ^
t . The flower on lop of the basket.
^ o ^
11 j Clay which has already
been soaked will be broken up loose by a sprinkle of
water. { Stressing lack of ie>istance on the part of weak or
.afflicted persons }.
CjUb*Ur' l\ T, I admit of your complaints?
and promise to make up for my shortcoming when’ my
son marries. { Said to a friend who complains why he has
not been invited to a certain party ).
Note, which moans “a mild or friendly complaint”
has a similarity with ornamental veil ? which the
bride wears on her head^. It seems? therefore? that it was
originally the bride who gave the reply to the complain-
ing friends and that the reply was equivocal? meaning in
addition Let your veils cover my head? etc. ”
^ thinks Ali’-Aba^ is a
city. ( Said of a conceited person }. »
-351 -
Note. -3^ I ^ is the name of Several villages in Iran.
-aUxJT r. Want of fame is better than a bad name.
^Jj> S oLf* l\ T. Infe riors sin? and
superiors forgive.
Cf, the E. To err is hurran? to forgive divine.
^ o ^
4 ,^^? P. P. The maid has to blame for
the fault of the mistress,
erf, -T-C-ij fji t 5 l<— etc,
) ^\S jl <0 T, To sin in secret is
better than to pray { or worship ) in public.
“-St*" P. P. As well be hanged for a sheep
as for a lamb.
T. If you commit a crime) let it be a capital one.
Note, is a mortal sin or capital crime? and its
antonym is ‘ a venial sin
o 2^
! wlfthA) T. The sparrow
hatched this year wishes to give lessons to the one hatched
last year.
E. E. { a ) Old foxes want no tutors. ( b ) An old fox needs
learn no craft. Cf. also Don’t teach your grandmothers
to suck eggs.
4*imJ jS ^ wtaJ T. A sparrow in the hand is
better than a peacock which is yet to come.
E. E. ( Same as for -ui etc. )
s> ^
<r A> r. A sparrow in the hand
is better than a hawk in the air.
E. E. ( Same as for ^ etc. )
2^ *«• O
c-i iSii:
F. T. The treasure has its serpent) and the rose has its
thorn) and joy and sorrow are ever linked.
“ 352 -
E. E, ( a ) No rose without a thorn.
( h ) Sadness and gladness succeed each other.
See under c.U(Ciji etc,
C 07 *^-^^ O .«7i.X£ 4ir* T. Sins are washed
by apologyi as clothes are by water.
(<^•*—3 vAjU j\ ^4) :;! ilU <Ujju(
E. E. The sinful man who fears God is better than the
hypocritical worshipper.
f. A blacksmith transgressed in Balkh) and a coppersmith
was beheaded in Shusht at■ (^Injustice prevailed everywhere).
Cf. b <-br etc,
Mote. This verse has neither a sound rythm nor a
good rime.
o ^
IfcA^wtT* <If* f. The cattle have trans¬
gressed? and the headman of the village pays the penalty.
t Those at the head of affairs are responsible for the
transgressions of the public ).
The sin of one man will
lay waste a whole city.
- „ 2^8 O Sjg
^ 3“*^^ E . T*. The sincere lover has
always a ready witness. ( Lit. ) The testimony of a true
lover is in his sleeve.
$aiLj ^:ir <ro-1 ur
3^ O 2^
sheet for him > when he has no tomb to begin with?
__ ^ o ^
To try to conceal what is too manifest.
( from the following anecdote? which will show the literal
meaning of the indecent phrase
Once a minister who was in attendance on a king,
broke wind beyond his control. In an attempt to conceal
- 353 -
the rude actj he started to trample on the ground, and
produce a shrill noise from his hoot, which he rubhed
against the stone > paved floor.
The king, who was aware of the cause of the minis¬
ter s restless condition, asked one of his courtiers, “ What
is that minister doing? ’’ “ He is trampling a fart ”, was
the witty reply. Cf, JC ]j etc,
$ * 35*
! jS* 4 ^ What connection is there between
a fart and one’s temples? Cf. oU-ij j o'*-!
• He has broken wind and he
is claiming a penalty! [ Said of one who has committed a
fault, and far from confessing it, puts forward a claim
2 ^ * *
1 . When the mistress breaks wind, it
makes no noise. Cf, aXia ^ etc.
. . i * 252
• ^ F. T, It is like a calf on a
ladder, and a camel in a cage! ( Referring to queer and
inconsistent acts}.
wCj jlrj Jm ^ A5L»^ T. My calf grew old, but did not
become a cow. [ Referring to a man who has childish acts).
cuib- \J U F. T. He will leave off
tending Emotn - Reza^s sheep before it is noon. (Said of an
unreliable or unfaithful servant, or, according to Dehkhoda,
of one who is not*constant in his friendship. Others believe
it refers to one who does a charitable act half-heartedly,
inasmuch as the sheep belong to Em^m ~Reza ( the eighth
Imam of the Shiites ), whose sheep it is pious to tend.
Note. ^L*. ( chasht ) is the middle hour of the
forenoon, and means also an early lunch.
T. The sheep
23
worries
- 354 -
about its life> the butcher about the fat.
C/. jU- \j j, etc.
Caa-lH) jS* T. The end of every sheep
is in the slaughter - house.
E. E. Every fox must pay his own skin at the flayer’s.
Caanl E. 2 . Given the eari one can
always find earrings. Cf. etc.
C-i ^ E. E. To set the fox to watch
the geese.
T. Jo entrust the cat with the meat.
^ T. The ass’s flesh is fit for the dog’s
teeth.
wO j\ wUU \j F. T. The meat should be cut
off from whichever animal is fatter. {It is unjust to
exploit poor people }.
Note. ( 1 ) ( baghal ) means ** armpitj bosomi or
breast ”. ( 2 ) The original has ‘ cow ’ for animal. The
use of the latter word would necessitate the use of ‘beef’j
rather than ‘meat’.
They have
given you two ears and (only) one tongue ( i. c. we should
talk less and listen more ).
li-Xp- jTT. The flesh will never be
separated from the finger-nail. (Relatives are as closely
attached to one another as the finger - nail to the flesh }.
^ o ^
under ^ r^» etc. ).
sSK -0- 2^
Cmma) doesn’t care for these
remarks') also? he turns a deaf ear to these words.
- 355-
His ears are not indebted to these remarks.
' C-f jj= F, r. To him who
endears the ean the earring, too* should be dear.
F. Love me* love my dog.
sCt «• O
C.-I r. The earring is dear!
yet the ears are dearer.
B. £. Near is my shirt, but nearer is my skin.
I j J£ ^ should fall into mire, it
would still be precious, and if dust should ascend to the
sky, it would be still be mean. Cf, :>^Jd jSZ^ ^ j^l
_ ^ o ^
To carry pearls to the Sea of Oman.
E. E, ( Same as for «^.3 )
^ ^ ^
jTJ F, T, It is hard for me to say it,
but equally hard to conceal it.
<U^T^ <5*' F. r. To sully a
person’s face with filth, and hold out a mirror to him
{ to disgrace him and remind him of it ),
jl-Jl ^ eoi. ? r. Was the dirt really
insufficient that ,t was increased by further abomination.^
etc,
•S a- ^ in its solid state
IS called .•*- ( sendeh ). Both words are indecent to use.
8^ ■&
J lender etc.)
? J) JJS
>Tr* ^ ^ I
Granted that your father was learned, of what avail is
that to you?
V ( A. ) T*. Saying) “ I do not know ’*) is half
the knowledge. ^xjr^ I , Sl etc.
E. E. Who knows he knows nothing knows much.
xjs <}■ 35?
? What comparison between the
dead ass and the greyhound?
i'j ja it JV
C ) ji ^ •vT ^y c~t:>
F. r. Fe w and precious words are pearls
Of which one may rightly boasti
Too many words are cheap as dirt?
Or like the shells along the coast.
Note, The word is applied to bricks? which are
made of clay moulded by hand? and left in the Sun to
dry. As a great number of such bricks can be made within
a short time? to these the poet is comparing profuse words.
‘ T. Bragging in a Strange
country and shouting in the coppersmiths’ market. [ Just
as one’s voice is drowned in a place where many coppersmiths
hammer their vessels) a man away from his country may
say anything about himself without meeting a refutal }.
? J'^y T. It you know the lullaby?
why can’t you get to sleep?
Cl, 0^ etc,
E. E, He tells me my way but does not know his own.
“ j I T, He is not worthy enough to
pour water on his hand.
-357-
E, E, He is not fit to tie his shoe-laces.
^ ^ ^ variant form of this expression is
, jl 3iV /, He is not worthy enough to
place his shoes together. ( 2 ) It was the duty of a ser¬
vant to pour water on the hands of his master before and
after a meal) or to place his master’s shoes together in
readiness for him to wear them.
. * O
fc-UU ^ T. Not every ass is worthy of its
bridle.
Notes, ( 1 ) ^1 seems to be a contraction of ->LJ) ,
though it now has two meanings: *‘crown” and “officer”.
( 2 ) The version of the pvb.> as given bere? is exactly
the same as that given in my text of Jame^ot-
tamseel^ a book on Persian proverbs. Dehkhodat though
quoting from the same source^ gives JiV
which is intended to mean “ Not every head is worthy
of the crown I believe? however? that this is not logi¬
cally correct? and should better read jiV
OiU JiV F. r. One does not give saffron to
every ass. ( Lit. ) Not every ass is worthy of saffron
Cf, -U > etc.
E. E. Do not cast pearls before swine.
^ See •*iU(_ 5 Li etc. ).
^ F. The lips came before the teeth. {Such
a thing is prior to? or more essential than? such other thing}.
^ <t
( Same as )
^ I^avid’s melody and one who
is born deaf.
E. E. To play a lyre to a deaf man.
{ } t>^ aSjlOii- <J Jjb jjSj\ oJi) T. It is the
( poor ) widow who appreciates the sweetness of the grapeS)
not the owner of the vineyard.
- 358 -
<1 ^1 F. T. The fact that something is
found gives more delight than the very thing found.
jOb jbU aJJJ (Same as J /\ etc,)
juUa> O \S ^ cJJiS T, Curse upon the
shopkeeper who does not know his customer. Ct ^ ^j^jj^et c ,
The meeting of a friend is as
good as a cure ( ift, cures the infirm or invalid).
^
c—^ laic c-o.C:> ^toi^ (Same as c-^Xa- etc,)
^Lijl ^ ju s aP!^ boi^
^jt^ J, O ^ ^ JU-*J U ^^la> T. They asked
Loghnia^fj-, “ Of whom didst thou learn manners?” He said*
“Of the ill - manneredj inasmuch as I avoided any act on
their part which seemed to me indecent ”. ( See Note on
on page 76 ).
F, E, ( a ) By others’ faults wise men correct their own.
(b) If thou seest aught amiss in another* mend it in thyself.
^ O ^
^^Ip- ir ^blijjb 1 <r’jl ju^aP 1 ^Iaa)
^^b iAaIaK) T. They asked Loghman-, “ Of whom
didst thou learn wisdom? ” “ Of the blind ”* he Said* “for
they do not tread on any ground until they have tried
( iit. seen ) it
O*"* y* T, To take up a morsel too large
for one’s mouth ( lit, crop ). Cf. tke next entry.
yCij> c-KAj oJ^1..Aib <U»aJ C, Take up a morsel which is not
too large for your mouth. ( This is often a caution against
marrying one who is of a higher social rank }.
^ o
j( \j <aa5 T. To eat food from behind
one’s neck. Cf, j\ JS"!
< 3 ^
^Laa IIaa ( a, ) 1 . There is a season for every speech.
Cf. etc.
- 359 -
P- T. Buy a lame or a blind ass^
if you want? but don’t buy an old one.
^fcA)f^-aiVU T, The loin-cloth of Mollsi-Nassreddin
( ^article which serves a number of purposes ).
{Frovi the following anecdote']-.
Once }^ - tdass f eddzn complained to the magis¬
trate that his loin-cloth) coverlet) carpet) and turbani had
been stolen. When the thief was arrested) it was found
that he had stolen from Alo/ia’s house nothing more than
a loin‘doth. When asked why he had asserted that so many
things had been stolen) AioUsi answered that though the
stolen goods was primarily a loin-cloth) it had served
him as his coverlet) carpet) and turban as well.
To give almond-cakes to a cow,
F. E, To cast pearls betore swine.
-O- 3^
T. His ewer holds much
water ( /. e. he is a man of great influence.
JJT iXiTvS* jt^ <i lid f J
T. An earthen ewer and a copper
azguzere both serve the same purpose) but the real value
of each is known when they are pawned.
Note Opji is generally supposed to be cheaper than
^hi| ( siftaheh ), the former being made either of
earthenware) or of tinnned iron) while the latter is usually
made of copper.
(A.) The sick man has no liability ( /. e.
he is exempt from performing certain religious duties ).
A" 01 (A.) T, Man will have nothing
but what he has obtained by his effort.
E, E. Who never tries cannot win the prize.
r
I ^ E. E, We have sown our wild oats.
T, We have sifted our flour.
Note. Someti mes this is extended by adding to it
j**!caiy jT I <iU| j /. e. “ and have hung up the sieve”.
* ^8
(->>^1^) \j F. T, The bereaved need
not hire a mourner. Cf. ).> y etc.
Jj \j U viA*:> ^ F. T. I am willing
to let loose the skin? but the skin will not let me go.
( From the iol lowing anecdote };
A bear was once driven downstream by a torrent)
with its head bent toward the water. One of the men
standing on the shore thought it was a skin-churn which
had been allowed to drift) so he jumped into the water to
bring it ashore. But the bear firmly seized the covetous
man) who now had to grapple with the animal only to save
his life. When the men on the shore shouted to him?
Let the skin float) if you cannot bring it”) he shouted
back) “ I am too glad to let the skin gO) but the skin
will not let me go”.
Another version of the story) according to Dehkhodsk^
who has quoted it from a book called Feehema^eehy makes
the bear look like a fur cloak) which is coveted by a
thinly - clothed mendicant.
Note. The story refers to cases when people are
involved) from covetous motives) in difficulties which
they are too glad to get rid of) rather than derive the
benefits coveted by them.
^ O
361 -
F. r. The mother eats of the
sugar and cake pretended to be meant for the child.
^ <y ^
CT® ^ JiS U F, T, Of the mother it is the
heartstrings) while of the nurse it is only the garments,
that are torn.
^ote. The P. has “The mother’s heart burns”, which
figuratively means, “ She feels a great sympathy for, or
greatly pities, her child ”, and the idea of burning suits
nicely the nurse’s garments.
C-if jjU j ju, )
C.s>-L. JjU jM U c-j <r vaU r. One who has no mother
should put up with his step-mother.
20s O' O
F. A bitch is a lion in her own
kennel. C/. <;L>- dC- efc
^ -O' 25 k
cij > J a^T J)lr <tr <^§ t u F. r. Little avails US
the story of the cow that came in and the ass that went
out. { Cited in similar instances }.
k5« -0 §5*
^^VIT .^xJ ij U (Same as ^,\ j\ etc.)
252 o 25 ?
^
F. Much as the snake hates the penny-royal, the herb
grows always by its hole. { Cited in cases when things go
contrariwise ).
252 * 25?
^ JJ F. T. A poisonous snake
is better than a bad companion.
"F. The serpent casts
off its skin, but doesn’t throw off its habit.
af, u» etc.
25 ^ * 25 ?
- 362 -
(Same as t etc.)
i^s » $
J AjlJL^ ^ <r->U H. E. Little birds pick at
the dead lion.
T, When the serpent grows old> the frog rides on its back.
JU^SjA (JUa-» J) eL- oJiJ^jlb E. E. ( a ) A burnt child
dreads the fire. ( b ) A scalded cat fears cold water.
( c ) Once bit) twice shy. ( d ) He who has been bitten by
a snake is afraid of an eel.
T. He who has been bitten by a snake is afraid of a black
( and white ) thread. Cf. ^tc.
^ ^matter how
crooked a serpent is wherever it goeS) it goes straight into
its hole. {^Wicked people are wise about their own affairs}.
ol9U ( A. )
F. T, What is gone is past) and what is about to come is
not present . Up) therefore) and make the most of the
moment between the two non-existent times.
E. E. Trust no future) howe’er pleasant)
Let the dead Past bury its dead.
Act) act in the living present)
Heart withiri) and’God o’erhead.
^ ^.5 <r U £, E. ( a ) As well be
hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. ( b ) In for a penny)
in for a pound.
E. t . Since we are already in hell) what matters if we go
one stage farther down?
w—(n—* E. T. He who has been
disgraced before all men should not worry about a whole
world of other troubles.
Note, f*—; which literally means ‘^wool”) figuratively
stands for anything w'hich is not worth worrying. ThuS)
tiie phrase O'*^; which is in- frequent use) means
Nevermind ” or “ Don’t care
- 363 -
^ P-l'- Since we are ( reputed to be ) infidel,
we might as well he more so. Cf, j:> <r L. etc
^ o ^
<«■ U f. r. True, we have eaten
the dish, but don’t flatter yourself that the Lur was a
fool. {Quotation from the following story)-.
Ft Isfahan, who had travelled to
UkhttaTt, was talking one day about the delicious dishes
prepared by the inhabitants of Istuh-j^n, among them
kalleh-p^cheh ( dish of sheep’s head and trotters ). One
of the audience travelled shortly after to Isfahan, and
fancied the much-praised dish. While in search for a shop
where it would he sold* he happened to pass by a cobbler’s
shop, where he saw an earthen tub filled with water, in
which the cobbler had soaked some pieces of leather.
faking this for the dish he was searching, he gave some
money to the cobbler and asked to be served with a nor-
tion of kalleb - pi^cheh, ^
The cobbler) taking advantage of the stranger’s stupi-
ity) granted his request) and he began to dip his bread in
the dirty water and eat it. He even put a piece of leather
in his mouth, but had to swallow it quickly, finding that
a could not be chewed. He then left the remainder, which
he could no m.ore eat, before the cobbler, and on his
departure from the shop, said, “ It is true that I have
eaten the dish) but don’t flatter yourself that I was a
nincompoop
Notes. (1) The above quotation is of ten cited by one
who has been deceived, and who after discovering it, tries
to join in the laugh. It amounts to saying, ‘‘ I have found
out) or knew beforehand) your deceitful intention”. (2) The
inhabitants of Bakbt/Qfi, and those of L,Ufist are called
Bursy and these are regarded, for no good or specific
reason, as simpletons.
(O***-^ U F. r. I am leaving the
house (in disappointment), but this is not proper household
management. ( From the anecdote of the thief who had
entered a poor man’s house, and could not find anything
- 364 -
which was worth carrying awayj and on leaving) cried
out to the owner of the house) “ I am leaving the house)
etc. etc.”
Notes. (1) The quotation is usually) though jestingly)
cited as a reproof of people who do not properly look after
household management or domestic establishment. (2) Some
people expand the anecdote by relating that the thief had
Spread a large cloth wrapper on the ground) in order to
wrap in it the stolen goods) and that while he was on
search) the poor man and his wife were awakened by the
noise) and seeing the wrapper) used it as their carpet) as
they had been lying on the bare ground—an incident which
aggravated the thief’s disappointment.
T. “ Riches are for the comfort of life) not life for the
sake of amassing riches
^ ^ money ( or
property )) it is not life that one could easily part with.
( This is what a miser would say when required to give
money for some purpose ), Cf. *^1 Jj; etc.
P, T. Bad ware comes back to its
Owner ( lit. to its owner’s beard ). Cf. etc.
^ . Keep your pro¬
perty safely) and do not make a thief of your neighbour,
E. P. Better a lock than 'doubt.
e' J. T. It was property gained illegiti¬
mately) so it was spent for an illegitimate purpose.
Ct. fl^»- etc ^
4)1^ 4)1^ JU ( Same as etc. )
^:>3^ ^ My own property
is mine) others’ properties are mine) too. ( This is how a
covetous person thinks ),
- 365 -
Worldly wealth will remain in the
world ( /, e. Man will die» leaving his wealth behind him
and> therefore? there is no point in accumulating wealth).
Kt
JU T. The wealth of the present world
is a source of trouble for the future world.
T. Any one can acquire wealth ( or earn money ); the
difficulty lies in keeping it. Cf, 1*V. Jj", ^Ic,
^ ^ Ji* P, T. Ali’s property will come to him
( i. e. The rightful party will in the end enjoy his right).
Such is version? which seems to
be correct in view of the explanation given. But what
I have heard from the mouth of the public is ^1^ JL.
which would mean “ Ali’s property ( or money ) should
be spent for meeting him”.
J^ Jf® U JU T, Ours are hung on to a
minareti others’ are under the tub ( /. e. People conceal
their own faults? but reveal ours ).
^ JU P. 7 . What we get from others
we should share with others.
(ij Oiiyo JU P. T. What is bequeathed by a person
does not last long.
Note, A variant form of this saying replaces -^J'***
by i. e. “goes after the dead”.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
-/ JU ^ . Property acquired free of cost
is Sweeter than honey.
!JU)lc^) ^ JU coniJU JU 2 . Every one else’s property
is a (private) property? but mine is common property!
( Every one tries to appropriate my property? as if it
belongs to the community? while he believes that his
- 366 -
property ii3 privately-owned) and should not he appropriated
hy others).
Note, (heytoJm^l) is ah obsolete Islamic term
meaning “ public treasury
Ip* Stolen property is taken to
one spot] but suspicions ( regarding the thief ) are directed
to many places.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. replaces 0^ by
which means “ faith ” — the idea being that where
there is an unjust suspicion? the faith of the suspected
shall belong to the suspector.
<:>:> jm jjtt ITj^ 4r E, E, ( a ) Too many
cooks spoil the broth. ( b ) Two captains sink the ship.
Cf. j etc,
r. Where there are two midwiveS) the child’s head does
not come out in the normal way.
The sight of the midwife
suggested the birth. ( Referring to one who shows no
initiative for doing a specified act? or does not remember
to do it] until he sees others do it
^ Ct ^
wt)U O T, He is a government of-
icial ] and must be given his due. {^Quotation f torn the
fol lowing story'] ;
One winter night when the weather was intensely cold
the governor of a certain town ? who was seriously ill >
ordered his men to fetch a physician from a neighbouring
village. The physician came in time and wrote out a pres¬
cription? but] far from being given any fees for his trou¬
bles ] on his way back he was stopped short by one of
the governor s servants ) who demanded from him a tip.
The unlucky physician was forced to return to the
governoi s residence and set forth his complaint against the
servant. However ? on hearing his case the governor said ?
\ eS] he is a government official » and must be given his
due (The story reflects a state of affairs when absolute
-367 -
in justice and despotism prevail ) .
wUmI j^lo (Same as
sCs
( ^ ^IsAL© £. B. To carry water in a sieve
(or draw water with a sieve). Cf. o->^ ^-’T
i . To measure the moonlight.
\j c.«U T, The moonlight depreciates the
yoghurt. ( There is no comparison between that which is
natural ( or genuine) and that which is artificial) .
Note, A variant form replaces by which
means “canvas or tent-cloth .
^ o ^
jii ji *; <1.^^ oU F, T, The moon will not always be
hidden by clouds.
E. E, In the long run truth will out.
^ ^ j ^5 T. A fish begins to stink
at the head , not at the tail ( /. e. It is those at the top
of affairs who are responsible for their deterioration ).
Cunl Of F, T, We have now reached the tail
of the fish ( /. e. The worst is over ) .
8^ -O 3^
I. The fish is not worth its stink.
[ Said when the disadvantages of a thing outweigh its ad¬
vantages ) ,
8S? -0
When you don’t want the
fishj catch at its tail. (Said to one who searches soniething?
though he is not really very fond of it ) .
oJ ol) (a3^ L) yOl cij jto O^U F. T. The fish
is fresh whenever caught ( /. e. Such and such a thing
can be done at any time ) .
$ C.-I 0 j F, T, When
fish and yoghurt are eaten together ^ the Angel of Death
- 368 ”
sayS) “ Am I to blame ? ”
l^ote. It is commonly believed that fish and yoghurt»
when eaten together » are physiologically injurious to the
system? although modern medicine has not yet confirmed
this. However ? it is chiefly the pun on the word
“ yoghurt ” > which gives some beauty to the saying. At
the end of the sentence this word is a contraction of ^
“we” or “us” and “ is ”? the phrase meaning? “ Is it
again ouf fault ? ”
^ <>' A starter good enough to ferment nine
“ mans ” of milk ( a very seditious person ) .
Notes. (1) Nine “mans” would roughly be equal
to 27 litres. { 2 ) when used in baking bread is yeast
or leaven.
<b \ .IJjLa F. T. The black man was
beautiful ( ifonical ) j and then caught small-pox. ( Cited
when a state of affairs goes from bad to worse).
Note. is a proper name by which some negroes
or black slaves are called. It literally means “ blessed ”
or “ auspicious ” . .
y OwXiPJli ^T. It is a full cesspool that stinks
most. ( Referring to mean people who are carried away by
pride when they become rich ) .
{Same as etc. )
32^ o 3 ^
F. T. F'ear not young swordsmen ? but beware of old men
full of knowledge and experience.
( ^ T. Unless
a speaker is criticized? his speech will not improve.
T. To apply the bow-drill
to a poppy-seed ( /. to split hairs or to be over-
scrupulous ) . C/. also the E, To put a rope to the eye
of a needle.
- 369 -
(fcS****0 LUmI 1^ Apply 1 etc,
changing iifinger^^ to (mesghal), unit of weight
nearly equal to 5 grammes'].
^ o ^
bAci^^iio i^VsA^ F, T. The epic would become
too weighty ( L e, the description would become too long >
also ) we will have to speak volumes for it).
Note, iSj^ ( masnavi ) originally means couplet-
poems ’’ » or verses consisting of distichs riming between
themselves. The word is particularly applied to the famous
couplet-poems of the poet ] alal^^din~%oomi.
T. It is inconsistent with reason to believe that the beggar
will be satisfied even if all the sands of the desert
become pearls.
F. T. Love must be on two sides.
Cf. iS‘. ^
E, E. Love on one side only means misery on both sides.
<i C—< jOb U.--.IPCA F. T. The police superintendent
controls the markets » not the private houses. Cf. the
next entry and the Note appended thereto,
1 } S O T, What business has the
police superintendent within the house ?
Note. To quote from a translation of Golest^n by
Platts ? “ ( moht aseb ) is properly the inspector of
the markets and of the weights and measures i etc. i to
him is also assigned the duty of preventing riotous and dis¬
orderly conduct? or public wrong - doing of any kind”.
{ } \j ^jJuu r. The police
'Superintendent who drinks wine will excuse the drunkard.
See Note on the preceding entry,
^ t?,
<r ju»i jj r. it is
the touchstone that discovers the gold ? and the beggar
24
- 370 -
who recognizes the miser.
JU I Jh ^ O o^j c.iPcA F. T. He who is afflicted is
hit by stones from all directions. Ct, the E. A low hedge
is easily leaped over.
C*^ (Same as stc,)
2 ^ * 0 - 8 ^
jXi jL c--^ ^ jyk> i F, I don’t expect good
from you* (but at least) do me no harm.
8^ * 2^
o *^ *y>)
( ji j\^ \3j ( AT
(See under ->U etc. )
8^8 o sjs
t-o.« ^They will not bury me in your
tomb (t. My sins will not be laid against you ) .
s> ^
^ -?a)t c--.! f jA
F. T. I have a heart - ache i which if expressedi will burn
the tongue* and if kept inside* will? I am afraid? consume
the marrow in my bones.
Cs *0 2^
c—jil oJi) ^jLa I ( See under ^ j> etc.)
^jb S .^uX*) cJ Af" c-«J I F. T, The true man is he
who closes his mouth and opens his arms. (Sf, etc,
c^V wU) j) T, True men do not boast of their
manliness.
t '!■%} ji <«* jul;
. . The true man must i in the struggles of the world »
be like the lower stone in the mill.
O o 2^
( } jijij y M C.-I jJ <r julj Ay,
A man should hearken ad vice) though it may tc writ*
ten ©n the wall.
-371 -
3 ) If the counsel be good ? no matter who gave it.
{ b ) Do as the friar saith » not as he doeth. { From
Spannish origin ) ,
___ th <f
-JS^ ^***jl^ ^
F. T, A wise? ingenious person must live two lives in this
world ? in order that during the first he may acquire ex¬
perience and during the second he may apply the experience
so acquired.
On on^j^ A conceited person is not godly
( Of cannot discern the truth ) . Cf, 1-*^ etc,
cm-I o^. ^ man is hidden beneath his
words ( i, e, until he has spoken j his faults and virtues
remain hidden ) . Cf, ciC U* etc.
wVid! ^ ji ^A) a- y <r ^^ ( Same as
^tc.)
jA I. To die honourably
is better than to live in ignominy.
E. E. ( a ) Either die? or live with honour, (b) An honour¬
able death is better than an inglorious life (Socrates),
^ T. He is dead whose
name is not mentioned in connection with a good act.
Note. The first hemistich to this is
l5 -A ^ ll ^—Sli ^ Li
f. O Sa’di > he never dies who has a good reputation.
ill) \j jA T. To wash the body of a dead person
clean ( /. to give full measure? to perform a duty
faithfully ) .
Note. This proverbial expression is mostly used in
such sentences as o—i; ^ L \j iS\ i. e. This
time he has given full measure.
3 ^ *
- 372 -
<r 6^^ r. If you respect
the dead) he will defile his winding-sheet.
£. E, {Same as for ^ )
^8 -O’ $
«.Am«*U ^T Old jmA 4^5” O 0^^«A
T*. Damn the dish) however delicious it may he) which
contains a dead mouse ! {Cited when something mars one^s
happiness ) .
Note. ( 1 ) is a colloquialism for
which means literally “ one who washes the dead ” .
So the phrase . . . literally means May the
‘ dead-washer’ carry ( such a thing or person) ” . In E. this
could be rendered by “ Damn it ! ” or “ Confound him !”
(2) The pvb. seems to be only in use among the Iranian Jews.
3^ -O’ ^8
^ Old^ F. T. He who washes the
dead is not concerned as to whether the latter is led to
paradise or to hell.
sjg * sjg
OldHe who washes the dead is not
expected (lit. does not guarantee) to provide the winding-
sheet. (Cited in similar instances}.
Oid^ F.T. The dead man is carried
to the grave against his will.
^ ^ ^ Test (or prove) your
virility before taking a wife.
F. E. ( a ) Never seek a wife till ye ken what to do with
her ( Scottish ). ( b ) Look before you leap.
3^8 O 2^
Aj\ji JMW ivU ^15 at F. T. A man who cannot
earn bread should not have such an unrestrained tongue
( he should control his tongue so as not to be rude
to his wife ) .
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaces J-^l “so
inuch ^ by . one ell or metre “ a long tongue referring
figuratively to abusive or rude language.
h A ^ y, r. It is no manliness to
- 373 -
kick at one who is fallen down.
tSi ■» o
('if-*-) if aJj <i.f <r aJj f ^
t. The bird goes where it finds food i not where it
finds nothing.
No^e. There is a pun on the words and
although the use of the word ^ which is a vulgar form
of Jtr “thing’s detracts from the literary weight of the verse.
^8 < 3 -
The hungry fowl dreams
of millet.
E. £. (Same as for jj. etc.)
JLmU yT 31 ^ ^The fatter a
hen 9 the narrower the outlet for her eggs. { This means
that rich people are less disposed to be charitable} .
Note. Dehkhodsk, has “ the narrower her ovary
( ) ” > which j does not seem correct enough for con-
veying the required sense.
^ #
C^i 4) The neighbour’s hen is a goose ( i. c.
Other people’s property is esteemed more than one’s own) .
JUAT* ^ O (a) Sell not the
bear’s skin before you have caught him. (b) First catch
your harei then cook him.
T. The bird which is in the air should not be grilled.
Cf. I etc.
2^ * 2C8
^ ^^ T. But one leg to the fowl. { Said when a
person is adamant on a point and is not ready to change
his mind } .
c—1 ^ji The fig-eater ( or the
bird that eats figs) has a crooked bill (i. c. Not every one
is fitted for every work ) .
*wr'^.*o f. Death is ignorance?
life is knowledge.
- 374 -
(c»«>0 jA F . T, The death of the ass makes
a feast for the dogs. Cf, the E, One man’s meat is ano¬
ther man’s poison.
jA T. Death is unavoidable (but) for
one’s neighbour. (Every one knows that death is unavoid¬
able 1 but scarcely ever thinks that this applies to himself
as well ) .
Note, I have also frequently heard ^
<>U^ which lays stress on the selfish implication of
the saying.
F, T, You have been given every¬
thing you wantedi and you want nothing but death> and for
that you have to go to GuiUn, (Said to one who is insatiable).
Note, This is perhaps because it was a custom in
^^for the relatives of a dead person to bear the ex¬
penses connected with his death i in other words, dying
involved no expenses in that province. ( Doubtful )
S P. T, Death and the entertainment
of visitois are inevitable. (Iranian hospitality requires the
entertainment of visitors, though they may be uninvited).
d) <a 9 j ^_j =^ p j wailing finish with
the death. Cf, 1 <r etc,
E F, Better face a danger once than be always in danger.
. also 1 he E. That which may fall out at any time may
fall out to - clay.
25s < 3 -
wUtb F,T, I want a pearl that
is both cheap and unique. (Ironical statement made when
a combination of good qualify and cheapness is expected).
Notes. (i ) is a colloquial contraction of (•“'^At'and
better suits the l ythm of the pvb. (2) literally means
“rolling”, and describes a pdhrl which is round and unbored.
sc? « sei
■ Spun by Mary and woven by Jesus,
- 375 “
{ Said of something so precious as to be unobtainable} .
^O * ^earned wages i
dear brother ? who worked. Cf . etc.
£. No painS) no gains.
C*#i 1 The wages of driving an
^ ass is riding it ( or Riding an ass amounts to the wages
for driving it ) .
{ ) (»c <f J.i jf ‘1 (*”•» o'>*
T. Breathe not a word inconsiderately i
Speak well » what matters if you speak tardily
-E, E. Think twice before you speak once.
^ ^ o ^
ojA F, 7 .. A “ looti ” is content with dust as
a snack after his drink.
Notes. (1)*>' is a morsel taken after an ardent spiiiti
Or even wine. ( 2 ) has various meanings v/ith bad im-
plications^ but is often used in colloquial language to mean
a person of generous disposition.
(See under UjiT etc.)
) 0*1 <0 2^*^ T. Silence is best
where there is no audience.
Note. Although ■'* literally means ‘ one who hears
or listens’? in the proverbial hemistich given here it means
“one who willingly listens in order to learn”.
jmi J> ij The willing listener
{ or audience ) gives the speaker encouragement to speak.
ijjtjd • Drunkenness ends with the morning.
E. E, (a) What soberness conceals? drunkenness
reveals, (b) When the drink is in? the truth is out.
T. Drunkenness ( is ) combined with truth.
- 376 -
o ~ T, A mosque is not to be used as a
lavatory. { Cited in similar cases) .
Note. Dehkhodgi gives the variant form ciW * *?- ■■ *
—:* d^. i. A mosque is not where one could tie a
horse. If this variant is preferred* it is due to the inde**
cent wording of —e O — J <5^
$ $
C-I jijc AJ. C-I <S- /"i jS>
T , Though the lowly ass is undiscerning > inasmuch as it
carries burdens it is dear(ly esteemed).
sSt « tS
? AjS" ^ <I9U 15 ^jJT f'i HjJ- ojC-o
T. The poor little ass desired to have a tail* but before
it could find one* it lost both its ears.
Cf. the E. ‘ He went for wool » but came home shorn ’
ana ‘The camel going to seek horns lost his ears S which
is of Hebrew origin.
T. To strike a blow against an awl.
c. E. (a) To run against the point of a spear, (b) To play
with edged tools. ( c ) To kick against the pricks .
<y
^***^ ^ He who goes to
buy something very late at night must expect to be cheated.
( The last shops open during the night usually overcharge
customers ^ .
Note. The original P. wording goes so far as to imply
that the last customer of the evening may be killed ? in
which case no one is responsible for his blood.
F, T. He who has not received
a blow from another boasts of his own fist.
. c. . sSs ss?
^ ^ E. E. You may know by a hand*
ful the whole sack.
E. The handful is a sample of the kharv^T (about 500
ktlogrammes )
*5 j 0)1) IIS' ji 0)T
^ o ^
j\ Oa) <5* F. T. A blow
- 377 -
that is not given till the fight is over may as well be
dealt to oneself. ( L,it, ) A blow that is remembered after
the fight is over should he given to one’s own head.
( jUac <»_r ( jT ) <5 JU^ <S c-iT euu"
F. T. The proof of the musk is its own odour i not what
the perfumer says about it.
E. E, A good wine needs no bush.
aS *
To carry musk to K.hotan ( name of a
town and province in China ) .
E. B. ( Same as for ) .
! J F, T. Though the skin is empty i
the water-sprinkler says* “Mind the water’*. Cf. the E,
An empty gun and Hands up l”
? ^ . There is nothing difficult that
does not become easy.
E, E. It is a long lane that has no turning.
Note. The second hemistich to this is
The true man should not be disappointed (lit.
frightened ) .
1) jij £ ^ joi b T. Take
counsel with a thousand persons? but disclose your secret
to only one.
C? * 2^
J ^5J5> ^ C-**.-** E E. Poverty on an old man’s
back is a heavy burden.
F. T. Old age and poverty make a tragedy.
(A.) E. E. Let bygones be bygones.
T. What is past is past.
Note. This is an A. version of the more frequent
P. saying oA-ir
KlXjijst* ^c^ JiZi 4Xbbu T. Cash transactions give out the
odour of musk. (Exaggeration praising cash transactions).
- 378 -
wT f j ^ oJUu F. T. Young people have the
digestion of an ostrich. ( . ) The stomach of a young
man melts stone.
f i jti isioP i (Same as elc.)
sS -O'
( ) ? c-*-l ^^ A beautiful
sweetheart needs not be adorned. Cf, etc.
E. E, Fair faces need no paint.
Note. is of masculine gender and means pro¬
perly “a man who is loved by another”. The regular word
for a female sweetheart or a ladylove is
I T. “That which
is ugly in thy eyes is the object of my love
Cf. the E. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
1 Lo.** T, A problem solved (lit. a riddle
guessed ) becomes easy.
wtib c-A* T. I want what is free of cost?
even if it is bullets coming in pairs. Ct. etc. &
iJ —I etc.
3^ O 3^
^ ^o>- O wAA E. E. One does not ( or You must never )
lock a gift horse into the mouth. Cf. ,^\ etc.
E. 1 . What comments need be given on something which
one has received free of cost ?
Note. Dehkhodti has c«'aF'*1 YIwhich would mean
“Who says one can obtain a thing free of cost? ” However?
the different forms may be regarded as separate proverbs.
SSS O 3^
? ^ ^ ^ ^ Beggars should be no choosers,
(b) One does not look a gift horse into the mouth.
Note. is a vulgarism used for which is both
an adjective and an adverb.
c.-»l (^' version oi the A. q, V.)
- 379 -
C cX;l»*** T, The dice-player
{^Itt , gambler) wants double sixes? but double aces turn up.
£. E. No use striving against Fate.
not do <'in ill
turn to another if you do not want it done to yourself,
Cf. the Biblical verse “Do unto others as thou wouldst
others should do unto thee
l> \j 'l . Do not knock .ot another
person’s door and others will not knock at your door.
E, E. As a man sows? so shall he reap.
. 1 . The fly which falls into the bowl does not do
much? but disgusts the cater.
Notes. ( 1 ) is coagulated sour milk ? which is
used as food ? and for which the Turkish word yoghurt
is often used by English-speaking peop le. ( 2 ) ^ lite -
rally means “ dirty or soiled ” .
^ o ^
■Sjjt' 'E. A new servant { lit. attendant ) walks fast.
See the variant y y et c. a 72 cl the Note appended to it.
! I 1 'i . How easy to be a priest?
how difficult to be a man ! Cf. etc.
Note. ( jnollsih ) is one who is versed in theology
and sacred law.
*b v::-*VLo T. Better be reproached by
your friend than see your enemy rejoice at your misfortune.
^ ^ ^
tS-A*- ^ ( oJuJb ojIjLa T. “ A lofty
minaret would appear low at the foot of Mount Alvand ”.
cf. etc.
^ ^E,T. I am as brave (w)as Rostarn,
Note. This is a form of equivocal statement with
bad grammar ? cited in cases when a person boasts of
- 380 -
bravery > which is not possessed by him» but by another.
In the E. translation given here “ (w)as ” indicates that
the sentence may be read with “ as ” or ‘*was”.
jtjU) oiJU) (^0 fj>e o *
T. I am the ant ? which people tread under their feet >
not the bee whose sting causes people to groan. { Pious
men prefer to be weak and do no harm than to be powerful
and torment others}.
laiU-} ^^ ^ a^
F. T. I never complain against strangers ? for it is my
acquaintance who has always done me an ill turn.
cf,
2^ * 2^
( A. ) T, Who seeks ( or takes pains ) will find.
cf, Ss j, ^ 31 y 31 and the E. E. given for it,
2S2 * 2^
! ^ ^' The first halting - place and begging !
Used when a bad result arrives unexpectedly early } .
cf. Jjl
Note. It seemed that poor people who went on a
journey » especially on pilgrimage » and whose money was
too insufficient to carry them through the journey » de¬
pended on begging in the last stages thereof. Hence the
origination of this pvb. » which refers to those who would
beg at the very first stage of their journey.
2^ * 2SS
F. T, 1 am talking of
chalk » and he is talking of cheese. (Lit,) I am talking of
the sky> and he is talking of rope. Cf, J o'—'T
2^ *0' 2^
C i#' * ^ } y E. E, Forbidden fruit
is Sweet.
F. T. Man grows greedier to do an act when he is forbid¬
den to do it.
2S8 o 2^
^etC^ )
^ o ^
- 381 -
j;j s ji;> a>: jm Ui :A ^ £. £. When 1 am gonei
let happen what may. Apres moi le deluge [French pvb,'\,
i . When I have left this worlds let it he turned upside down.
r was about .to fall s
and you gave me a push. {Said in case when a person who
is himself disposed to do something is induced or pressed
by another to do it 1 .
^ F. T. I say» “It it a bull”?
but he tells me to milk it.
8^8 * 2^8
{ 1 Lad 4 ^ J 3 ^^ La*^ F. T. The
pure-hearted {or the pious) show their attachment equally
to one^s face as behind one’s back,
{ ^ JU-i) \jM IjjUi jji ^
T. When there is union among ants i they tear off the
formidable lion’s skin.
£. E. Union is strength.
^ O ^
T, The ant is Solomon in
its Own ant. Cf. etc,
E. E, (a ) Every cock is a lord on his own dunghill.
(b) Every dog is a lion at home.
2 > * 2^8
F. The ant gathers (provisions) in summer? in order that
it might have ease in winter.
{ tS***-" ) Jl*L> 4 y* 4 > ^LoJb T, A* ant is best without
wings . cf, etc.
2^2 * 2^2
Mice snatch groats from his
mouth (/. ff. he is so weak and powerless that even mice...).
Note. There are other variants to this phrase » amonflist
them ^y* where Cr*-* is replaced by 'r'^
( pocket ) .
- 382 -
ijjW iSJS' o"-?* ‘® ***®
mouse which should worry the sack 9 But in this case it
is the reverse.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is JJ-c**
cr>* oVl I
It is into the pot of the
fussy that the mouse falls.
$ * s^s
C-*> (jt-OwtJ kyfJjX^ cijruJ ^£J} fJttjjb T. The mouse
was unable to get into the hole j yet it tied a broom to
its tail. {An instance is when a person? though not admit¬
ted to a place himself? takes another person along} .
! wtib <_iS' <S’ c.-**5*' P. T. A mouse doesn’t
amount to anything i much less its head and legs.
Note, ( kallepacheh is food prepared from
sheep’s head and trotters.
^ lA <> oJ^>j T. A living mouse is better than
a dead cat.
2^ CS
JUl ...* 1 ) F. T. When the
mouse and the cat collude with each other > alas for
the grocer’s shop!
Notes, (1) < and vil.> properly mean “ Woe
betide (such and such a person or thing)”. ( 2 ) A variant
form of this pvb. ? which is rather bookish? replaces
by . Still another variant reads ? <S* ^
where the last part means
the grocer s shop will be ruined ” ? or the 'grocer will
be impoverished ” .
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
^ • It does not allow a hair to enter its
crack. {This means that such a person is staunch? accurate?
impeccable? etc. i also ? that such a thing is definite ? and
admits of no interpretation; also? that there is no margin left).
* ^ • To act as a hair in one’s nose ( /.
- 383 -
he intrusive to him ) .
E, E, To play gooseberry.
C«-»l ^'E. It is worth while to pluck
a hair from a bear ( /. to take any small sum from
the miser),
o ^ ^
JE wU? \j ^^ E, E, To make mountains of mole-hills.
i . To make a rope of a hair.
Note, A variant form of this proverbial phrase is
wLlb b ^ *iL
U w U^x i T, To hide moonlight by mud ( /. €, to
try to conceal what is too manifest). Cf, JC etc.
JU^ {Same as b c^L* ^y> ^UaL. )
to3 cJL^I jty <U) T, When the moon
wanes > they point to it with their fingers. (A man becomes
famous as a result of mortification or laborious study} .
Note, L* w.. tC 1 has usually a bad implication > as it
means “ notorious (for something bad) and 0*^
means “ to become a by - word ” .
<y ^
( Same as et c, ) .
jy Aji ,-sit y P. E. Love based on a motive
amounts to hatred.
^ <s ^
6 E. A bead doesnH stay long on
the ground on account of its hole, t Girls do not remain
unmarried } .
^ O ^
y (wU o\E. E. He plays well
that wins.
P, E, Throwing lucky dice makes every one a good player.
See Note under '^b J’S etc.
- 384 -
JP JuL19 <U E, E, (a) The dog bays the
moon, (h) The moon does not heed the barking of dogs.
T. The moon diffuses light? and the dog bays.
jljP 4-* ^ guest is welcome up to three
days.
E. E. Fish and guests stink after three days.
<0 T. The guest is obedient to his host.
(Lit ) The guest is his host’s ass. (This means that a guest
should not object to ? or make any comments on ? what
is served by the host } .
guest brings his own
portion. (This is what hospitable and religious > minded
people believe } . C/. jl ertt which is to
be pref erred to the saying given here,
^ ^ * V * 4j P. T. I treat you to the water
in the stream. ( Cited when one pretends to be hospitable?
but offers what costs him little or nothing } .
3^ O- 8^
h Oljj <0 Jjiy
T. The guest does not like to see his fellow-guest > but
the host does not like to see either of them.
you want your guest
to go? sweep under his feet (iit. pour water under his feet).
* 2S8
o-t twXi- 4)aA> T. A guest ( or visitor) is God’s gift.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is *^1 1-^ oW*
i, c. A guest is loved by God.
*0 o-
0**^ jUT" ji Aj ^ (Same as ^ etc.)
• * vS-s^ (•‘*4 ‘i) h r. Why did
you choose St. George from amongst all the prophets }
(i, e. Of all possibilities you have chosen the least likely)«
-385-
{From the following anecdote } .
A fox once snatched a cock and ran away » holding
it firmly between his teeth. On the way the cock said >
“ O fox » since you have made up your mind to eat me »
do 80 at least after mentioning the name of a prophet ?
or other holy person > so that it may become lawful for
you to eat my flesh” > intending thereby to obtain an
escape in the event of the fox opening his mouth. But
the cunning fox only squeezed the victim with greater
force » and breathed out in a dragging manner the name
“ Jer-jee-s ” (St. George ) . “ Alas ! ” said the disap -
pointed bird» from amongst all the prophets you have
chosen Jerjees ! ”
l^ote, St. George) the patron saint of England 9 died
as a martyr in the year 303 A. D. in the reign of Diocle¬
tian 9 and was looked upon as a ( demi- )prophet by the
Mohammedans.
mediator receives
blows from two sides.
Note. The beauty of the P. lies in that the chief
element of ( mediator ) is ( middle ) i which
occurs again in the last part of the sentence.
■ irrf fOne can’t make war with
rose water.
T. They don’t distribute sweetmeat in the course of a
fight. G/. etc.
To settle upon a price
during a dispute ( i, to take advantage of a dispute and
indirectly ascertain a fact ) .
T. A quarrel between two persons is like a fire » and the
wretched tale-bearer has to carry the fuel to feed it.
E. E. Tale-bearers are commonly a sort of half-witted men.
C—< jL-J yaj S T. There are many hints
25
- 386 -
(Of mysteries ) between a pair of lovers.
f ^ ^ J P. jT. Trying to gratify one’s
passions amidst the excitements of the Resurrection Day !
Notes, { 1 ) , which is originally the pi. of
*t court y area ? battle-field s etc. * means the open
space or court where the last judgment is carried on.
Hence , by extension > the word has come to mean ‘ the
Resurrection (2) On the Resurrection Day every person
is on the run» trying to get hold of some one who would
intercede for him with God. It would be stupendous j
therefore ? to imagine some one who would be so unfeel -
ing as to care only for the gratification of his passions
on such a day ! { 3 ) A variant form of the pvb. replaces
the last word? perhaps because of its indecent nature > by
/. e. the requisitioning of asses {or beasts).
One cannot bxing
about separation between the finger-nail and the flesh.
(Allusion to ties of relationship) .
ji^ ^^midst of the
to-do she thinks only of having her eyebrows plucked.
(Said of one who is self-centred}. Cf, etc.
Note, ( hiroveer ) is a slang word meaning
“ bustle or to-do ” .
T. Drink wine and burn down the preacher’s pulpit ? but
avoid inhumanity to mankind ( Of do not torment your
fellow - creatures ) .
! P’ T. Why do I ask when I clearly see it?
\^Froni the following imfecent anecdote'\:-
A man asked a woman at the time of sexual inter¬
course with her? “ What is your name ? ” “ My name is
Lady Wide”? said the out-spoken woman. “ How stupid
I must be ! ” retorted the man ? ‘‘ I clearly see it ? and
still put the question ” .
387
j («r-* crlH He expects to
wade the stream without getting his feet wet.
E, E, The cat is fain the fish to eat? but hath no will to
wet her feet. <3- $
^ b ^ L) iSS^ you wish
to become dear ? either die or keep aloof from people.
C/. J iS JJ-s
sS * $
oU^ F. T. I know the burning spot in your
body ( /. B, I know where your shoe pinches). { From the
following anecdote^:
One cold morning the master of a house bade his ser¬
vant to fetch him a ewer of warm water? which he wanted
for use in the W. C. The servant i finding himself in a
hurry > filled a ewer with the boiling water from the
samovar? and the man? who was not aware of what had been
done? poured out the water and burnt himself. On coming
out of the W. C. he was so furious that he set on abusing
and beating indiscriminately every one with whom he came
in contact. But the servant ? who knew the real cause of
his master’s fury ? said to him quite calmly ? “ I know
what part of your body is burning
Notes. ( 1 ) It is a religious rite among the Moham¬
medans and the Jews to purify themselves with water after
easing nature. (2) The expression is very much
used in colloquial Persian ? and means > He is silently
angry”. (3) and are colloquial forms of
and respectively.
( J ^ Jb ?jyb T. Do you want an
inheritance from your father t Then acquire your father’s
knowledge. {^Freely'} The best inheritance is learning
( Of knowledge ) handed down by one’s father.
(^-Ph ) jUaO F. The hyena ( or wolf )
comes upon the inheritance of the bear.
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
JU jyd jA uP^P
which is a regular hemistich ? and which means. “ The
- 388 -
legacy of a dead wolf is acquired by the hyena’\
^ J JUiCj^ T, A poison {or a snake’s
venom ) is fatal y whether the amount be small or great.
^ o ^
ci^monkey
could no longer sit on the hot floor » she put down her
young and sat upon it. { Referring to a certain monkey
who went to a Turkish bath with her young. The floor
was getting hotter and hotter with the heat from a furnace
underneath ) and the monkey managed for some time to
stand the heat) clasping her young one in her arms. But
the moment came when she could no longer stand the heat?
and self ^ preservation forced her to put the young monkey
on the floor and sit upon it } .
sS * 3^
The worst wheel
of the carriage creaks the most.
T. The Uglier the monkey ? the more its mimicry.
^ o ^
wU U T. . One should not expect fruit
from the willow. Cf, -rjl etc.
E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
C A ^ T. One fruit takes its colour
from another. Cf, >IT <* etc.
t. E. A man is known by the company he keeps.
No painsj no gains.
P. T. One cannot have a treasure without taking pains.
Ly P^ ^ • The blindman can see to his own
affairs. Cf. the E. Every man does his own business best.
^jJL^ <A^ He who habitually
pilfers ( Of picks ) happens to be a good chooser.
Nofe, A variant form of this pvb. is J-
4iJ— e. The ass which habitually pilfers? etc.
T. One cannot go uninvited
(even) to the house of the Lord.
2^ * 2^
} 4) 1 T. For an ignorant person
there is nothing better than silence. Ct, <-—1 jj^\ etc.
E, E, ( a ) Silence is wisdom ? when speaking is folly.
( b ) Silence is gold.
2 ^ *0
juT^lJ UIa j j P6«i P. T, The wise man draws an
inference froVn what the fool says.
jJ J JUW ( See under j ^1.? UU )
She puts on airs because of her trous -
seau ( or dowry ) .
Note. This may be generalized to read
{cr)jlt^ /. e. The bride puts on airsi etc.
on airs if
“ 390 -
there is some one who will hear them i if there is none >
stretch your legs.
-O' ■tt’
employ him who has not
seen employment { i. the inexperienced ) .
under etc,)
c.*-l 4-JU T, The water murmurs {lit.
groans) because of the roughness of the ground. (Referring
to grievances occasioned hy bad company } .
-O'
aJ) 4) Oib F. T. A high reputation is better than a
lofty palace. {Lit.) A high name is better than a high roof.
3^ -0- Sj
C—^ J F. T. What is left of it is only a
name j but there is no trace of it. (Cited in similar caseS)
or when there is no truth in a rumour } .
c 1 oiU f 4, ^
r. Better leave a good name after yourself than a
mansion adorned with gold.
ojLcgiTaiKiS
^' Pltjus men want Bread to sustain them in their worship*
ping corner > rather than such a corner for winning bread.
C/. 0^,3 0-5^^^ etc.
F. Live not to eat > but eat to live.
^ jl ji <> Bread and water are
both here i where shall I go then , seeing that there is
nowhere better than here ? ( Cited in similar cases )
sS? -o
Who would be the head should give
bread. (Lzt.) Who would give commands > etc.
{^4? ^ • To lend each other bread.
^ ^ Swear for me >
and 1 11 do as much for you-
- 391 -
Note. The P. pvh. could he grammatically changed
so as to fit in with the E. E.? inasmuch as the former has
an infinitive> and the latter an imperative! construction.
35 ? * 2^
^JLJLo iZJtJ T. To rub one’s bread on the outside of
a bottle ( containing the cheese ). Cf. etc,
O •»
^jmTc^ jjm yT U h oiU F, T. Better eat dry bread
than be under obligation to sandwich. { ) Eat your
bread with water ! and be under no obligation to doogh.
Note. (abdoogh) is yoghurt diluted with waters
and is often mixed with cucumber cut up in small bits.
3^ ij^3^ ^‘ ^‘ Barley bread and a peaceful life.
Note. (khow) is a provincialism for “ sleep ” »
and Of j which literally means “ sleeping
ears ” > figuratively means ‘ a peaceful or tranquil life .
^ ^^kS^3^^ ^^3^ Since you
earn your own bread j why need you talk about others ?
(Counsel against flattery > gossip ? or backbiting ) .
^^3 IO oJU IyU F. T. Give the dough to the
baker! even though he may burn the bread (/. One must
trust a professional man ) .
SSS * 3^
‘jij rA F. He eats bread at the ruling market
price. (Said of a time-server who has regard for the
circumstances ) .
3^ <1- 3^
jb <> • T. One cannot eat bread with
another’s appetite.
3 ^ * 3S8
CmmI ^^3j ( ) iS3^ bread is buttered on
both sides.
T. His bread has been dipped in ghee.
Note. -HJ (from A. •*;✓) is properly broth in which
- 392 -
Bread has been crumbled. Cf. the E. “sop” .
^yb draw a sword
on him who supports you > though he may be an infidel.
(Counsel against ingratitude } .
Nofe. Such is the form of the pvb. as I have heard
it 7 but > though it is a regular hemistich* I do not prefer
it to the metreless variant given by IDchkhods. * which
reads as follows: **
JU^>5^ O
i. e. One who eats the bread of an infidel defends him
by his sword.
* sS
T- The wheaten bread of a poor
man tastes like barley bread. (So also the virtues of a
poor man seem to be vices ) .
M T, Wheaten bread needs a steel
stomach. ( A mean person gets above himself when he
comes upon a fortune ) .
wULc^icj ^ F, T, He who has manly quali¬
ties returns the bread of an effeminate person. ( This is
because he scorns to be under obligation to such an
ignoble person } .
(^ J-?} J UjU F, T. Good faith cannot be
expected from a broken heart.
[ u J fUk! 3 J\ T. A father’s blessing is not
without its effect .
) \j^ U JTJ Not a single blood-vessel
will be injured except by God’s will. Cf. the E. No use
striving against Fate.
Note. The first hemistich to this is
If all the swords in the world are drawn * etc. If the
two hemistichs were read together > the verb ( will
not cut ) could be either transitive or intransitive.
- 393 -
^* ^ sharp sword will not cut soft
silk. { Counsel against stubbornness) ,
3^ * 3^
( ) wU J ij) ijiT j6> F. T. Not every
beast is a formidable lion j which has claws and canines.
F. E, All is not gold that glitters.
25 s 35?
AjTj Aji Jflc <} OJT ^
Do you not see that when the cat is brought to bay >
it tears out with its claws the eyes of the leopard ?
* o O
^ O^?' (See J etc,)
3^ -a- 3 ^
( t—^ >Pc-cJ jry
t. The lion will not eat the dog’s leavingS) though he may
die of hunger in his lair.
3^3 -O' 3^
^ fkXiS^ F. T. Though we
have not tasted bread ? we have at least seen others with
it ( i. e. We know something about it ) .
3^ «■ 3^3
F. Poverty means a thousand faults.
3> -a 3 ^
F. Steal not and fear not. Cf, J-l eJUy etc.
E. E. (a) A clear conscience fears no accusation, (b) Speak
the truth and shame the Devil.
3^ * 3^
4) U Oai jUbjLi F, No one will give up the ready for
that which is yet to come. Cf. etc.
3^3 -O' 3Sg
^ F. The parvenu goes so
far above himself as to mar his personality. ( Fit. ) He
who had not seen fortune j when he happened to see it ?
spoiled his clothes with his urine.
3^3 -O’ 3^
( ^5***-' ) U (5^^ 4«r
F. Hast thou not seen that a single ox in a grassland will
mar all the cattle of the village ?
F. E. ( a ) One scabbed sheep can mar the whole flock.
(b) One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.
- 394 -
Note. Some texts replace by «■ Dost
thou not see ?
t ( y \y J T. Bring forth a male child and do it at once !
E. E, Good and quickly seldom meet.
<i) *Uj Step by step the ladder is climbed,
T. A ladder is made up of steps. €tc.
penet¬
rate stone ( Good advice will have no effect on the
hard - hearted ) .
Jj T, The male and the female are together.
E, E. You must take the fat with the lean.
^5Cj jibbj^j^ J^ T, To an ass cowries
and pearls are the same, €tc,
Note, The beauty of the P. lies in that the word
‘ ass^ occurs in the compound word which is usually
translated as ‘ cowry * or ‘ shell ’ > but which literally
means ‘ ass’s bead ( L large bead ) ’ .
F,T. Do not lie near a camel
and you will not have disturbed dreams. Cf, etc.
^ o ^
ij My U (Jj-*r ^y T, (S ante as vj^ etc.)
<*-»j j^ \ <*-•) F. T. Credit transactions (when repeated
too often ) end in strife.
Note. {rasieh) is either a provincialism for
or has been coined to rin e with {fias Jeh) .
<3^ I (S ajne as etc. )
SS
^ . It is Q mistake to take the advice of an enemy? though
it is right to listen to it (so that one may do the contrary).
- 395 -
(A.) T, There are two unap¬
preciated l^lessings • health and security.
Note, literally means “ unknown
^ jloij) JIa) P. T, Sow discord and reap victory,
-S. Divide and rule.
Note. The P. is most prokably an adoption of the
E. thought > and hence sometintes ^ is replaced hy
which is a translation of the E. “ rule ”
sSs -o-
C*iN( ji The owner’s breath is better
than fodder ( i. e. The animal benefits more by its owner’s
protection and care than merely by what it is given to eat).
( } pjwAJ \j Jl_A> AT ^)LT ^Ula) ©a-cj tj
T. It is easier to promise food to yourself than money to
the grocer. ^Counsel advising contentment and avoiding the
purchase of things on tick ) .
P. T. One should not give away any -
thing which is already in his possession in the expectation
of something which is yet to come.
;»* T. What is imprinted on a
carpet will be obliterated j but what is imprinted on the
mind will not.
^ o 25?
jA ^ J T. He needs luck and nothing
else but lying with his face to the ground ( i. e. One may
have no activity as long as he is lucky ) .
A .It is not blasphemous to narrate a
blasphemy.
25? 25?
(J T. He tries to reap what he has not
sown { i. e. he is too exacting ) .
aC? * 25 ?
©kXcl^ r. One should not go to meet
misfortunes.
- 396 -
E. E. Don’t fear the worst until you see the worst.
jK> JO jJ U jS* Oi5Do not assign work to him who
has not done any work ( /. the inexperienced ) .
Cf. ^ 6tc.
A falcon will not prey on
dead mice.
^^ 2 * 1 #^ uT '^ JUiC) T. The wolf cannot be expec¬
ted to do the work of stitching skins.
E. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
T, To do good to wicked people amounts to doing an ill
turn to the good. Cf, ^ etc,
E, E. He hurts the good who spares the bad.
3^3 * 3^
el J w.-»l J A person’s
looks disclose his inward and bear testimony to his friendly
attitude or otherwise.
8^3 * 3^
E, T. When a beggar looks he is
virtually begging.
^ O ^
C jlf <2^
E. T. So long as you have not spoken* none can interfere
with you > but once you have Spoken i you must prove
your words.
3^3 O 3^8
c&Mc C>b (Rythmic form of etc.)
3^3 8^3
j\f j,.j\ Mijm
T. There is not a word said in play, but the sensible man
will learn a lesson from it.
E. E, (a) There is in the smallest thing a message for us *
could we but read it. ( b ) A wise man will make tools
of what comes to hand.
353 •» 3^
-397-
T- • They don’t mourn where nohody has
died. Cf, j\J^, etc,
^ o ^
T. To apply salt to a wound.
E, E. (a) To put one’s finger in another’s sore, (b) To take
out to extinguish fire.
^ T. To eat salt and break the
salt-cellar (f. to be ungrateful to salt eaten with another).
o ©A <ajt> wwvu*) j-aJic (5^ir O’ ^
( Same as etc,)
0 ^1^ ^ ^ yU h) Y^ou cannot
say to him j “ There are eyebrows above your eyes ” .
(He takes offence at any remark ) though it may be
nothing but truth } .
F. T. So long as it is new » what matters
if it is an ox’s pad. { Emphasizing the importance of new¬
ness of things) . { ) is a provincialism for )
^ ^ ^ When it was our turn (to ride)»
the ass foaled. (Referring to bad luck) .
2^2 * 2 ^
Ld ei.A)^ ^ P, T, See the upstart in his new suit!
Jji T, Light upon light (used in the sense of “So
much the better” ) . {From the following anecdote') :
A man once called at the house of an acquaintance
whose name was Mrs. Light > and was informed that not
Mrs. Light but her daughter ? Miss Light > was at home?
whereupon he said i So much the better ( as this is
light upon light ) ” .
Notes, (1) originally means ‘ a native of Noor-
a district in Aiazandara^^i and is often used as a surname.
But the connection between this word and which
means “ light ” j has given birth to the proverbial ex¬
pression and the anecdote related to it. (2) Another ver-
-398
sion of the anecdote is that they told the man that not
only Mrs. Light was at home > but her daughter > Miss
Light f was there ? too.
^ • ** No pains* no gains.
T. If you want honey* you must bear the bee’s sting.
Notes, in its wide sense means a wholesome
drink * a treacle * etc. But it has come to mean honey >
aS well.
^ H. (a ) No joy without alloy. ( b ) Bees
that have honey in their mouths have ' stings in their
tails ( Scottish ) ,
sSs * -
^ E. E, (a) After death the
doctor. ( b ) Shutting the stable door after the steed is
stolen ( or after the horse has fled ) .
E. ( Like ) the antidote given to Sohfab after his death !
Cf, j' etc.
jty ot&MM w-if ^3^ wl> ^J.. Servants are fat during
six months * and thin during six months. ( This refers to
six months of employment during which they live well »
and a semi-annual period of unemployment when they
are in straitened circumstances } .
^9 t jM, J ^ 3* E, T, An unpaid servant
domineers over his master. ( Lit, ) A servant who haS rio
ration or Salary is a crown on his master’s head.
^ JT T. My servant had
a servant* who had a servant. { Cited in cases when one’s
servant ? instead of doing a thing which he is ordered to
do 5 refers it to another person }
Note, ^y a modern word meaning ‘ servant ’> is the
same as which is an older word * and which is now
used to mean “ a humble servant ”. In this pvb.i however*
both words have been used for variety’s sake.
-399-
.A new servant walks fast.
£. £. A new broom sweeps clean.
Note. Some people say, mostly by way of joke, that
the very first syllable of which is > (new) , suggests
the necessity of changing one’s servants frequently , and
hiring new ones.
^ ^ ^ When novelties appear
in the bazaar {of market-place)* old wares become annoy¬
ing. C>. ^ ftjbs .jU
^ote, I have heard some people replace Jj by
(Lai^Zaf), which is the name of a street in Tehran,
and explain the pvb. thus: When novelties appear , even
) which is the best shopping centre , goes out of
fashion. But this replacement is either due to ignorance ,
or based on a joke.
sS? <3- tCt
C <«5** T, The writer of the
letter ( only ) knows what its contents are.
^ yT <0 T, Neither fetch water , nor break
C Cited in cases when one^s service does more
harm than good } ,
^ <i r. The sunshine
will not become warmer » nor a negro slave blacker , than
this (/. e. Things have come to the worst ) .
^ o ^
4J J I 4J
• What does it mean-at one time playing the fool ,
and at another playing the saint f
( 1 ) *^1-5 is a tambourine and of
(tomb ak) a one-headed long drum used in Iranian orches¬
tras. But .people who played on these instr uments were
usually regarded as buffoons. (2) (Zeynab) and
( contraction of fl Ommekolsoom ) were the sisters
of Em^m Hossein. The second hemistich refers to passion-
plays in which tragedians, played the parts of religious
personages* such as 3 and i . Hence the original sense
- 400 -
of the pvb. is that it seems strange for a person to assume
two opposite characters .
^^ ^ Don’t ex¬
pect barley from me i and I won’t expect you to run > be
content with mere straws and I shall be content with your
walking pace. ( This is originally what one may say to a
horse ? and an instance where it is applicable as a proverb
is when an employer is neither willing to pay a good salary
to his employeej nor expects good service from himj .
6*’ The bitter almond - tree
will not bear sweet almonds through cultivation.
E. £. Crooked by nature is never made straight by education.
^ o ^
^ 'P. A twig must be straightened
only when it is young {lit, wet) . Cf. l-> etc,
E. E. It is no use teaching an old dog new tricks.
^ What does it mean-
such a friendly attitude as that i and such an ingratitude
as this ? ! (Referring to extreme courses or sudden changes
of attitude } .
Note, '^1 is friendship and » which originally
means “ heat or warmth ” i means friendly or hospitable
attitude.
3^ -t}
^ O ^ ^ highly salted
as that j nor so insipid as this ( /. e, the happy medium
is desired ) .
jijl Jf <5 ji
^ 45 T. I am neither moun-
ted on a camel? nor? like a camel? am under a load i I am
neither a lord of the peasants ? nor the slave of a king.
( Expressing freedom from care ) .
W ' A .0 <) Ai T. He has neither a support nor . a
strong fist. ( Said of a person who has neither physical
- 401 -
strength nor any one to defend him } .
d^J^oy. <‘-5 C-.>) j-^> O ^ O ( Same as
0-4^ Ij -c; €tc. )
<i F. T. Do not sleep in
a place of confusion j and you will not have disturbed
dreams. ( Originally same as jl ^.j j (-.jT e^c. )
^ o ^
«0L> y J«T <li{^ a 4 ) J- neither
bargained nor haggled , and the bride has been brought
home. [Said when one has obtained something, or attained
an end. with little or no trouble } .
^^ is a compound word, and, construed
with , means to bargain or haggle. It is only in this
pvb. that and have been split.
^ jJT O
^ y <i T. Ne’ither eat so much
that the food may come out of your mouth, nor so little
that weakness may cause your life to depart.
^ •dji j) jt <r _r <j
^ jSj! T. Nei^ler be so severe as
to weary people , nor be so lenient as to make them
bold against yourself.
^ 'K' 2^
eai_r ^ ^
e eats it not himself > nor gives it to another i he
lets it go badj and then gives it to the dog.
He plays the dog in the manger.
Note, The P. pvb. is here worded in the third
person , but is often worded in the first person , even
if Cited about other people.
45 <J F, T. Neither steal nor allow your pro -
perty to be stolen.
y* y y etc.)
26
- 402 -
AS 4) T. I am neither the head nor the hot -
Tom of anVnion ( /. e, I am not at all concerned in such
and such an affair ) .
y j U Neither break my head?
nor fill my skirt with nuts.
j jJ^iS’Aj jrw <) r. Neither eat garlic* nor burn frank¬
incense.
jC jzit ^ T. Rather no camel’s milk than the
sight of the Arab.
2^8 *
) Jb jC j^s^^Aj ^ - The lover’s heart
can no more know patience than the sieve can hold water.
aSs * s08
( ^ Jj~i ^
T. It is no wonder if the nightingale’s note should sound
faint when it has a crow for its cage-fellow.
2^ -tJ- 3^
1) c.iaJ ^ ^^ is no
better than Kashafi'^ curses on both of them. (Sf. etc,
E, E. Gimmingham 1 Trimmingham? Knapton* and Trunchi
North Repps ? and South Repps * are all of a bunch.
Cf , also It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.
^ <s ^
wtjbwU« Iaj# 4) ^ T*. He neither makes me blind* nor
cures me. See and the mother story.
^ U 4> c^l U 4) r. We are not so lucky *
nor are you so generous. ( Cited in similar casei } .
aSs o O
^j*^, O^J ^ ^j^l ^ As we have
neither wealth nor faith* we need not fear being deprived
of the one by thieves ? and of the other by Satan.
Cf, cjI^ -o etc.
^ ss ^
^f4x5j Vb jt 4i f 1 jrj-X JU 43 T. We have
neither appropriated the property of any one* nor climbed
- 403 -
up any one’s wall. { Said in similar instances } .
{ jl j <> <5
A quadruped loaded with a number of books is not
learned J nor is it a seeker of truth.
^ ^ T. Neither pray hy night »
nor water your milk. ( FfS€2y ) Jf you do not water your
milk > you need not say supererogatory prayers hy night.
{Originally said to the milkman who adulterates his milk
with water ) .
^ T. My mother can curse better
than you. [From the following ancedote'\‘^
A peasant complained to the governor against the
extortions of the local tax-collector. The governor, on
hearing his grievances, rather than take an effective mea¬
sure , began to curse the exacting collector. Whereupon
the peasant, who had greater expectations from the governor,
turned away in disappointment , and said , “ I am going
home to see my mother.” ‘‘And why? ” asked the gover¬
nor. Because , answered the peasant , “ if it is a matter
of cursing , my mother can do that better than you. ”
{injustice must be dealt with only by effective and se¬
vere measures , cursing and the like are no remedy at all} .
sC* -O'
4)4} 4)4} F, T. “ Dearie , don’t you
want milk ? ” - “ No ! To hell with the breast ! ”
Let the breast go to the grave(-yard) . {From the
following anecdote') ■.
A woman was under a vow to breast-feed her son
as long as possible, which resulted in the habit remaining
in the child even until he attained his adolescence. The
day came finally that he was to be married. But, contrary
to the expectation of his mother , who believed that he
could never be weaned from the habit, the married youth
no longer fancied sucking his mother i so she began to be
curious about the fact, and walked to the bridal chamber
-404
to find out the reason. But when she asked» ‘‘Dearest) don’t
you want the Breast ? ” “ No ” ) said the youth ) “ To
hell with the Breast I ”
No^e. The anecdote alludes to the fact that most
men turn ungrateful to ? and forget ) their mothers when
they marry.
^ 4* fcAJ <> I <i
T. Not every human Being excels a wild Beasti rather? a
wild Beast is Better than a wicked man.
( ) Jj s'j> jf <-f Jsf
E. E. All is not gold that glitters.
T. All is not gold that is yellow. etc,
^ ^ ^
( ) c.aP ^ jl O ^ every thing
that comes to the tongue may Be uttered.
E, E. ( a ) Do not all you can i spend not all you have i
believe not all you hear j and tell not all you can.
(B) All truths will not Bear telling.
(c) Tell not all you know? nor do all you can ( Italian ) .
<> F. T. The greater
( Of taller) is not always the Better.
F. E. Precious goods are contained in small parcels.
( tS'^ } AJTjii <—)
T. Not every one who is handsome on the outside is pos¬
sessed of a good character.
The handsomest flower is not the sweetest.
C 4i) I <r *jSb 4) T, Not every one who
makes mirrors knows Alexandrian ways.
J^ote, Alexander is fabled to have made a mirror
in which the world could Be seen.
4X«laA C**i*i |> 45^i^A 4^" 4) T. Not every one
- 405 -
who is clever in debating is honest in his dealings,
I ^ (®) It the
{ gay ) coat that makes the gentleman. ( b ) More goes to
the making of a fine gentleman than fine clothes.
T. It is not merely fine clothes that distinguish the man.
Jl) y> T, A bad tree will bring forth
only bad fruit. I etc,
E. E. Figs do not grow on thistles.
^ Honey is sweet i but
the bee stings.
t. The honey is not worth the bee’s sting.
E. T, Scorpions sting and serpents bite*
From their crooked nature i not out of spite.
T. The scorpion does not sting from spite > this is what
its nature demands.
^ 4) ' The sharp point of a pen is
better than a double-edged sword.
T, If you be good? and men speak ill of you? it is better
than that you be bad? and they speak well of you.
20 ?
T, Since both good and bad must die? happy is he who
excels in virtue.
Note. The last part of the verse literally means
“ Happy is he who carries off the ball of goodness ” — a
figure taken from the game of polo.
4 il:? 5 j ©Ij {Sa///e as ^ etc. )
— 406 —
P, T, { a ) Need one ask to do a good act ?
(b) Why hesitate in doing good or receiving a favour ?
^ Ai*half "■ learned
physician is a danger to life » and a half > learned theolo*
gian is a danger to faith.
E. E. A little learning is a dangerous thing.
E. E. Pay the piper and call the tune.
T. Loosen your purse and eat porridge.
A) T. It is better to be tired out than
insolvent ( or helpless ) .
oJoUt^ T. The leavings of the aSS should
be given to the cow .
^ O ^
UmU ^ It ^ worthless gar¬
den the gate of which is left insecurely fastened . ( Lit, )
Woe betide the garden which has a key made of vine wood.
u;r j o:><r Jbc) E. T. it is a sad
death for which (even) the undertaker mourns. {Lit,) Alas
for the dead for whom the “ dead - washer ” weeps !
F, T, Bloodshed which is
left unsued for one night will remain unavenged for ever.
8^ ■!> O
F. T. What can be done if the salt
loses its savour ?
Note. The first hemistich to this is
/. e. Whatever is being putrefied is cured by salt.
Cr ^
F. T. God help us when
the carrier becomes a toll-man ! (This is because carriers of
goods know all the ways of smuggling ) .
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is
i. e. God help us when the smuggler becomes a Cus -
-408-
toms official.
Ml? Jt-to j/b
{ t5-A— } J ^a-d <^r l«sjr
A learned man is like pure gold i since wherever he
goes people will appreciate his value.
Notes. ( 1 ) -5^^ usually means “ existence ” > which
would make no sense in the verse in question. The words
“essence ” and “ person( ality ) ” would fit better. (2)^
is the common word /or “ gold ” » being a synonym of
. But in this case j3 ( or >3 ) apparently means
“ pure gold ” .
jf <j jjsadU F. T. What exists in an imper¬
fect state is better than what does not exist at all.
i5Like master) like man.
F> F- Like minister ? like king. C^. <1- *iC ^ <L’
3^ -O-
(A.) F. T. To talk of a pleasure is
half the enjoyment.
jb ^ F. An ill-matched patch is
better than an uncovered hole.
F. E. (Same as for etc, )
_ ^ O o sSs
y* ^ 3 ^ o3~^ 0J^C3
^ ‘ When the time of union draws nigh) the flame of love
is excited all the more.
3->6l Oil) T. Faithfulness ( or gratitude )■
should be learned from a do".
o
'0-
(.5^- ) iT ^VLI) jl Jju,
F. Uo not hope constancy {or faithfulness) from the
nightingale, who warbles each instant on a different rose.
oa> \j 3 \j ^9j3 F, 7 , Give up your head ? but do
not forfeit your word.
- 409 -
^ h, T. Man is less
constant than anything else ( i. e, Man perishes while his
property remains ) ,
ij T. When the time
comes for eating j the aunt forgets ( i/V. does not recog -
nize ) her niece.
cij ^ir cij T. When it is time to
work I am crippled > when it is time to eat I am strong.
Cf, the E. ‘ To quake at work and sweat at meals ’ which
in this case should be made to read j “ I quake at work
and sweat at meals ” .
Mote, and oU^J^ aje both Turkish words. The
former means “crippled or maim’S and the latter is origin¬
ally made up of two words Jy “ arm ” and o'-*?- “ mace
or club .
^ o ^
<r j^diT ij wij E. T, Make the most
of your time to the best of your ability.
jl-lT c.dJ J When there
is a feast he eats like a beast » when there is a fight , he
is out of sight, cf. etc.
E.T. In an emergency when there is no chance of escape >
one will even seize the point of a sharp sword.
<U_;>
•OU c-,i VU >-J ^A) E. 1. In trouble and tears
you send for auntie i when you have a feast you say this
is no place for auntie. ( Eft. ) When the re is weeping >
(you say) “ Fetch Auntie’’ j when you have sweetmeat and
victuals (you say) » “ There is no room for Auntie now.
Mote. This is a vulgar pvb. with no good rime or
rythm.
51 ^ < 3 - 2^2
-410-
? <jC*ldJ F. T. When you
were warbling in ravishments that was the time to provide
for winter. ( From an anecdote which is summarized
as follows } .* —
In a spring when the nightingale was idling away his
time in warbling and visiting various flowers » a certain
ant living in a nest beneath the tree which was most
frequented by the nightingales was busy gathering provi¬
sion for the next winter. Consequently when the cold season
arrived the negligent bird was forced by need to beg at
the nest of the active insect s which tauntingly made the
remarks “ Why did you not think about winter in the days
when you were foolishly warbling in ravishment ?
Mote, There are several variant forms of this pvb. >
one of which replaces ^ by . This is preferable
because the former means chirping or peeping ? while
the latter means “warbling”. On the other hand the fact
that other sources substitute cicada for the nightingale of
the anecdote leads us to believe that -jyr is the correct
word to be selected » as it means chirr ** > which repre¬
sents the trilling sound of a grasshopper or cicada. { The
P. name for the latter insect is or j more properly
cT"-) . Moreover > the replacement of nightingale
by cicada provides njore logical connections ) as the cicada
is in greater contact with the ant than the nightingale.
■£> 2^
J elf 14^'^
^T. When I was alive you
did not give me straw and barley i now tliat all is over
with me 1 you furnish me with a nose*bag. { Originally
supposed to have been said by a horse to its master) .
fr* ** i *# •# 4
1. When you have plenty » be charitable, for you will
receive more i when you have little, be no less charitable,
foi nothing is due to be permanent.
J*" E. E. It never rains but pours.
-411 ”
P, T, When it starts to come » it comes continuously.
jul) ^ju U yCU {Same as etc.)
C^l ^ P. Memership of the Parliament is
a ladder to membership of the Cabinet. ( A modern poli -
tical Saying } .
F. T, Amidst the uproar
and disorder the bald man came into his own. Cf, •cCiii^jU; etc.
Note. and are elements of the compound
word meaning “uproar or tumult”.
ffcAA (A.) T. Here’s the mosque j and here the
pulpit ( /. e. Now you have the opportunity to prove what
you claim ) . Cf, o'-V* J
-L.7 E. E. A new broom sweeps clean.
T. Every new mill has a tumbling noise.
^ I E, E. God never sends
a mouth » but He sends meat for it.
^ He who gives teeth gives bread ( as well ) .
o ^
4^Ci> J <CiT
^ ^ *—• He who sows the
seeds of evil and hopes for good harvest forms a foolish
device in his head and imagines a vain thing.
Note. idiomatic expressions
meaning “ to nourish or entertain a hope ” .
C fj. 4r a:9l .iiiX- ^ 14 - 0 1? <r
. An inferior fighting with a superior will fall down so
that he can never rise.
sS? fl- sS
T. Every ( slaughtered ) goat is
hung hy its own legs*
£. t. Every herring must hang hy its own gill.
c.~( J\ji. [J ^^ 1 . 4 ; ^ T. Every spring
- 413 -
has its autunin j and every road its end. Cf. It is a long
lane that has no turning.
Note. I do not consider this pvb. is altogether worthy
of citation > as the first part of it is discouraging and the
last part encouraging.
3^ -O' 30s
<r juLi <r 4^,*) jSb
T. Do not imagine empty every lair i
Perchance a leopard is sleeping there.
80s o aOs
ground has its high
ground, cf. 3' etc. and etc.
E. E. (a) Every tide has its ebb. (b) A flow will have an
ebb. (c) After night comes the dawn.
sOS 3^
J siiUUrc.-t Jb P.T. Where there are festivi¬
ties ? the little bald fellow ( ?. e. the small busybody ) is
Sure to be to the fore .
SOt 30s
F. T. Where there are people {^^t,
heads ) ? there is talk. (^One can’t help hearing remarks or
comments from those present in an assembly J .
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
3^ -CJ 30?
E. T. It is always the foot of
the lame man that meets the stone ( It is he who is
doomed to be unfortunate who usually meets with cala
mities ) . Cf. '
303 3^
c-.?i i; c-t T. Where there is a fairy*
there is a demon.
E. E, ( Same as for the next entry ) .
Note. The P. has which literally means
“ fairy - faced ” .
30? * 303
Jj®4ri ^jtb E. E. There is no rose without
a thorn .
'F. Where there is a rose > there is a thorn.
303 <3^ 303
- 414 -
ComJI ^ Where there is a
rose > there is a thorn heside it.
H. £. (Same as for 1 jT <r U^a J
3 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
^CjL* ^IjdCfei (Same as ^ ^/c*.)
p,s J , 5 V jM j\ I 4 ^-^ F, T, Whatever
conies to the sons of Adam passes away. (A lesson teaching
patience and fortitude } .
Nofe. A variant form replaces hv •*''3^
vU La oL-^ ^ < 1 ^ F. T, Every evil
thing that comes down from Heaven is aimed at the life of
poor Zaman. Cf. o-i <*C:^ etc.
I^ote. o^j (Zama^) is the proper name of a typical
unfortunate person,
t-tiL.*A What the thief has
left the fortune-teller will take, { Said when a situation,
goes from had to worse) .
Note. Some people use (geomancer) for
C.-»t jt 4p- y—fc T. Whatever comes from a
friend is good.
Note. Sometimes this is extended by adding to it
w-l >rL:; J" i e. <‘ Though it be only the ashes
of tobacco ” .
2 ^ - 0 - 2 ^
w--*! jj^j\ T. Whatever is cut from a loss
is a profit. C/. jl etc.
Note. ‘ To cut a loss ’ is a common E, expression.
collected what the
other person ( /. e, his predecessor ) scattered. { Said of
one who is exactly like his predecessor » or follows in his
footsteps } .
^ >“* The greener the garden » the
more cheerful the gardener. Cf. ,y^ ^ etc.
- 415 -
Note. The E. has “As is the gardener* so is the gar¬
den ” 5 which is somewhat different.
jib T, What is in great supply is des¬
pised. (It is only the rime between and and the
rythm of the phrase which make it worthy of insertion).
3^ * O
under
^ J*y. etc.)
sC^ o $
j yijurji; 3 j) ^^ The more you stir it,
the more it stinks. ( Referring to a state of affairs which
should not be meddled with lest it should be aggravated).
^ o ^
JLU <) JO Lift ^ (a) Easy come * easy go.
(b) Light come , light go. (c) What comes with the wind
goes with the water ( M.anx ) .
Note, (yallali) is an exclamation uttered in joy
or intoxication, and only serves an an alliterative word.
As a frequent uttering of these words means dallying away
one’s time , I believe the pvb. refers to wealth earned
without pains.
the tune.
F. T. You are given to eat in proportion to the money
you give.
Note. utT means (sour) pottage.
^ <r ^
JU T ^^ ‘ Whatever comes up is welcome.
Cf. ^
E. E. All is for the best.
jLi >> under etc.)
JuT jlS; JuT ( <r y^jb L.) E. E. Lay things
by , they may come to use.
T. What is despised may some day be found useful.
2^^ * O
- 416 -
4^ jb T. He has not given Back what he
has eaten. ^Said of a person who is excessively fat ^
{Same as j-^l <^T etcJ)
4 ^* * ^ P.2, You are a slave to anything
to which you are excessively attached.
s> ^
{ oM:> j:> Jij iJjJ Ja 4s. jto T. What is
welcome to the heart seems good to the eye.
W«* 4s^ T. What is in the pot will
come into the ladle.
^ ^ comes out of the sack hut what was in it.
. otes, ( 1 ) A variant form of this pvh. replaces
hy <; ( ; ^ Bottom of the pot). (2) In
view of the sense conveyed By the variant form > some
Believe that the pvB. refers to a secret which will in the
end Be known By all.
P^ A man must conform to
the ways and customs of the world. (Lit.) Whatever is in
the world (or is laid down By custom) is for men to oBserve.
0-1^ fa.:;. 4_> ^ Oi J I 4> o-f ji- 4.5-^
o - ^
E. E. Man proposes , God disposes.
. What my heart wished was not granted! what God
wished the same came to pass.
. o 3^8
'^*’r ■ K ^ ®P"" *® «8ain (/. e. all
1 had done is undone )
P‘ P. My cake is dough.
“5» J 43-^ P, T. Not every bearded being is a
goat. a. etc. & e/f. Cf. alw
All are not thieves that dogs Bark at.
E. All is not gold that glitters.
- 417 -
) wWU Jj \ ji E. E. Soon ripe » soon rotten.
T. That which comes ( or springs) up quickly does not
last long.
lijlut) ( a ) Exchange is no robbery.
( b ) Tit for tat.
T, Nothing which has a replacement gives rise to complaint.
-O' 2^
JviU <UA ^Whatever you do}
whether good or bad j you do to yourself. Cf. etc,
E. E. As you sow j so shall you reap.
Jl* c*-*t lALo ipUf' F. T, Everything of
the most abominable falls on my unlucky head. ( Cited in
similar instances } .
Mofc, -^5 jg bad odour j and means “ stinking
or fetid ” .
O * 2^2
^OwUT* i^jib 7.. “The more you grow up*
the more spoiled you become \ ” (This is what a father
may say to his spoiled child » but seems to have a mother
story as follows } :
A certain Euf > who had travelled to ? saw
for the first time some black plums in the market } and
bought some > which he ate with great relish.
A year after he saw some brinjals in the same market)
and took them to be plums > which he thought had since
grown up. But when he ate one of the brinjals and found
it to be of an unpleasant taste » he said ) “ The more you
grow up ) the worse you become ! ” .
Notes. ( 1 ) ( gandeh ) means ‘ putrefied ’ ) and
the similarity between this word and ‘ big * gives a
proverbial colour to the phrase. ( 2 ) is colloquial
for iSj^
O ^
(l5-a—) JULtJ should not set one’s
heart on what is not lasting.
c —((See under j ^ ojt
27
- 418 -
j ^ etc, )
^ deserves
another, *:ujUi
P. P. Every entertaininent needs to be reciprocated.
2^8 * aSt
^tf>i i^,-*-A. All is not gold that glitters.
c-it ( Jjtb T. There is a remedy for
every ailment.
E, E. (a) Every sore has its salve ( or There is a salve for
every sore ) . ( b ) There is a remedy for everything i
could we but hit upon it.
oaf ) ^*-5 h \j jib T, Not every truth must
( or can ) be said.
E. E. All truths will not bear telling.
C-«»( j^ Every road is entrusted
to its road-guard.
ajs * 2^
^ 5^ <-UC jib T, Not every day is a
festival when one can eat sweetmeat.
E, E. Christmas comes but once a year.
ir jlf* Jjj jib T. The cow does not
die every day so that koofteh may become cheap. Cf .
the preceding pvb.
Note. cijP (koofteh) is a dish consisting of balls of
pounded meat. See ^ etc.
*tiC) jib J ^• There is a place
for every word.
Note. means “ point ” ? and position ” or
“ place’’. The second part of the hemistich Seems » there¬
to re ) to be a repetition for emphasis.
■o -o
iJi. E. E. ( a ) Every light has its
shadow > every hill its valley. ( b) A flow will have an
ebb. (c) After spring-tide > neap { AI<awx ) .
T. Every ascent has its descent.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is.
^
\Sj** Every man has his lot.
F. T, Every head receives its daily portion.
jrjJ^ O.j-1 ^ Every dog is brave in its
own house. etc.
E. E, Every cock is a lord on his own dunghill.
<J ^^UaJL aT T. Every vice which
the king approves is a virtue.
E. E. Fair is not fair y but that which pleases.
2^ O 2^
There is a time for everything.
T. I am happy wherever thou art with mei even if I have
to live at the bottom of a well. ^
3^ o 2^
( t5-*— ) JUH ^ jjA J J f ^ \s>^
T. Wherever there is a spring of fresh waterj men, birds?
and ants flock around it.
1-.&I
is a
A *
common
JbcT* .A T. Not every bald man is lucky,
belief that bald n.en are lucky ) .
<j L.^ a*-ob ^jSF. T. Any one who
relies on his neighbour will go without supper. (Stressing
self - reliance } , etc.
<r
c.-*l jb ^ ' Every one is a sovereign in
his own city. Cf. the E. Every dog is a lion at home.
Note. The beauty of the P. lies in that ( city )
occurs as an element in the word (sovereign) .
o:>1-0b ^jb> F. r. Every one spins
- 420 -
accord ing to the size of his spindle. Cf . ^tc.
E, E. Cut your coat according to your cloth.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
C-cJfc jA> 5 . Every man has built his
house according to his own ambition.
Note, The first hemistich to this is
oiU <; -Air J th SM
i. e. The nightingale has built his in the garden j and the
owl in a ruined place.
Ct
v-»T ^JST. The portion of him
who goes to sleep goes on the water. Cf . j\ etc^
^jJTT. Every one’s grievance is
in his own heart .
E. E. ( a ) No one knows the weight of another’s burden.
( b) Eve^y heart has its own ache. Cf. also Every man
knows best where his shoe pinches ( Scotch ).
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is J-? .3.?
*^1 which is more grammatical.
^Love me »
love my dog .
T. He who is fond of another is fond of his dogi too.
2^8 2 ^
A F. T. Every one eats the fruit
( l^t. drinks the water ) of his heart.
^ iiiU ) c-^<r jtb E. E. As you sow ?
SQ shall you reap.
f . Every one will in the end reap what he has sown.
^ o
Every ass loves to
hear himself bray.
f . Every one is fond of his own voice. cf. etc,
^ -jK) F. 2 . Every man does ( or knows )
his business best.
I
-421 -
Note. 1—1 is a contraction of ■'^—1 “master-workman’S
recently adopted for “ professor ” .
^
What is niy turn
to-day may be thine to-morrow, (b) To-day me > to¬
morrow thee, (c) Every dog has his day.
P. f . Every one will have his turn every so often (
for some five days).
C T. Every man is made for
a ( special ) job.
< 3 - 3 ^
( 3 J^--0^? wUj ;jJ J OiUj j ^ JaC * j\eSj^{b
T. Every one thinks his own understanding perfect j and
his own child handsome.
P’ P‘ The Owl thinks all her young ones beauties.
P^ote, Some texts replace ^ by
O -K- 2^
P*' ^ ' Every man is wise
about his own affairs. ( ot knows his business best ) .
C/.
T. Every raisin has its stalk.
P, Every bean has its black .
^ ^ ^
P. P. Every one who comes into the world erects a new
building i whereafter he departs and leaves it to another.
3 ^ ^
<S" UijJ f •-M 4S" taU5" 1 AJ "jSb F. T. He who does an
act which should not be done meets with a result which
should have been avoided.
j ijlji *fj!b
‘ • Whoever avoids training under a teacher virtually
avoids fortune.
Mote, L^l jg g contraction of which means a
master(-workman ) > and which has recently been adoptc'l
for “ professor ” .
-422-
{Same as J^ 31 etc.)
Jm jV ^jtb 1.. Fear him who does not fear God.
He who avoids
payment of the king's taxes will come into the clutches
of a ghoul.
<s ^
T. He who escapes danger will
not become great. Ci. the E. Nothing venture? nothing have.
^ <s ^
1) ^S'jlb T. No good comes to
him who consorts with evil men.
E. E. (a) He that lies down with dogs must expect to rise
with fleas. ( b ) Who keeps company with a wolf will
learn to howl.
^ <s ^
j<S' (Jjip- ^.) b <r’yib
^ ^ <jr juiljk) juifipt} (_r T. whoever
disputes with one wiser than himself in order that he
may be thought wise will be thought foolish .
j! F, T, The wider the roof ? the
greater the weight of the snow on it.
E. E. ( a ) M.uch coin ? much care. { b ) A great ship must
have deep water
wU 4) {Safiie as -j* etc,)
3^* O 2^
^He who is in
Noah's company need not fear the storm .
) mkz jt j ,_r a>i
J'
Whoever does not spare himself
spared by others.
does not deserve being
( ) ojT jjj j <~f jB^
He who shows no mercy to those inferior to himself
will suffer the oppression of those superior to himself.
- 423 -
^j^ ^ • Every one thinks
for himself » and the thin-bearded man thinks of impro¬
ving his beard.
E. E. (a) Every one for himself > and the Devil lake the
hindmost, (b) Every man draws the water to his own mill,
(c) Every man wishes the water to his ain nill (Scottish),
Note, In the Scottish pvb. the word ain means own,
^ O
j^l ^( Same as < 5 )^ etc. )
<r ^ <r T. He who fears dies ? while
he who does not fear wins.
i^-SJ 45 *jJt T, He who goes alone to
the judge comes home satisfied.
Note, 1+^ is a common phrase meaning to go
alone to the judge “ to have his ear ’* in the absence of
the other litigant party.
sCs
The emptier a person’s
purse the less his care.
E. E, Much coin i much care.
^ o ^
^ (**> AJJ^ ejJ^ 4_r ^ 'E. He who eats
melons takes the risk of the ague (/. We must pay for
our pleasures} we must take the consequences). C'. theE.
If you would have a hen lay» you must bear with
her cackling j and The cat loves fish » but she’s loth to
wet her feet .
Note. People with fever or chills avoid eating melons
which are believed to bring the ague.
I* 45* jSb T. No matter who becomes an ass ? we
will serve as the pack-saddle for it ( i. We don’t care
what changes will take place as long as we can outlive them).
Note, Th is pvb. is often extended by adding to it
j*-iNU U j-i <r^ ; e. No matter who is the door> we will
be the hall.
- 424 -
T-. He who gives no advice to himself needs to he given
advice hy others.
Mote^ Such is the form given hy Dehkhodsk ? hut in
my text of GolesSan, this is read <r^A etc.
m
He who gives advice to a self - opinioned person> etc.
{ iS-^ ) yL j> 4-r^Jb
Where one is unfaithful to his trust j his hand will
tremhle on rendering accounts.
E, E, ( Same as for j J-l c;Jl> y elc^ )
Note. Some texts replace hy
E. E. (a) He that will steal
a pin will steal a better thing. (h) He that will steal an
egg will steal an ox.
^steals a scruple will not scruple to steal a
pound. Cf. .>jj ^ etc.
Notes, ( 1 ) Xhe word dine^f comes from the Latin
denarius, which was anciently a Roman silver coin. In Iran
dinj^r is now only a money of account > worth one-hun¬
dredth of a #/ai. (2) d^ifig is one-sixth of a dinaf^.
( 3 ) A variant form replaces hy /. e. a harley.
*• -’•J y ij <-S‘jtb
If people do not eat of a man^s bread while he is
alive > they will not mention his name when he dies.
C Jj 4_> k JU ai; Jil <_r ^
. He who despairs of life tells whatever he has in his heart.
„ . _ * 8 ^
*• C*<.1 .I’LomJ ^^2411^ F, T, He who makes
preparations for prayer is alert to hear the call to prayer.
, \j 4_r A
' ^ ^ J-i o'>5» T. Consider him good
whose nature is good , be he a descendant of Ali or
of Omar .
Handsome is that handsome does.
- 425 -
O 4r* jA P.2, He who is suffering
pain is surely expected to groan ( /. One’s feelings or
sufferings will not remain hidden ) .
^ o ^
) C-( JiO J’f 0-1 ^ h^jA
T. He who has an enemy before him > and does not slay
him ? is his own enemy.
sC? {> ^
O 7 . Whoever has gold
{ Of money ) in his scale » has strength in his arm
Cf. -ri jj etc.
P. E. (a) Money is a sword that can cut even the Gordian
knot, (b) Money makes the mare go.
^ 2^ -tJ- 2^
j*" O P. T. A big headache for a big
head. Cf, etc,
t c*4hC^ ij <5 *jtb T. Whoever lacks pa
tience lacks wisdom.
sCs * O
kXlT ojU Ij <jrjA T, He who wants
a peacock must take the trouble to go to India.
cf. U etc,
E, E. No pains j no gains.
-a- 2^
^ <ixl.-ao I*) U ^mL^> \j <_S^ jA
P* t. To find out the true nature of a man ) either tran¬
sact or travel with him.
O <5- O
c-J jS (^UU Jijj at jA E. E. All are not thieves that
dogs bark at.
P. Not every one who has a beard is your daddy.
t$ Cf t?.
Jj <rjA T. He who has gold (or money)
has an enemy before him.
E. E. Much coin > much care.
2^ ■£> O
C*^*^*^} ^jA I . Who does not weigh
- 426 -
his words will be annoyed by the response.
E. E, Think twice before you speak once.
^ ^P, T. He who suffers sunstroke on
his head provides himself with a hat.
^ O
J^ljT y> 4r Jiiil) ^ ^
T. If a person’s words were carried into practice by a mon¬
arch » it would be a pity to give any counsel other than
a good one.
-O' 2^^
{^5-^3 j! tS -^-5V® ^ j*’ P, If a person
sells Sweetmeat > buyers will throng round him.
c. E, Daub yourself with honey » and you will have
plenty of flies.
The second hemistich to this is
^ Ij J—t L \j li
/. he must either tie the fly’s wings? or cover the honey.
2^ il- 2^
^ . He who acquires knowledge and does not practise it »
is like him who ploughs the soil (D7. drives the ox > /. e.
the plough ) ? but does not scatter the seed.
enumerates to you the faults of others will surely carry
your faults to others. ( Al6>r^ f/e ally ) He who gossips to
you of others will gossip of you to others.
^ O ^
l\ T. The man with under¬
standing dies j while the man without it wins (the race) ,
5Ck 2^
Mj> Iju I; A(i <0 jlc ^KsTiS"jto
T. He who gives ewey his hooks on locin should have one
of his hands cut off j while he who returns the books should
have both his hands cut off.
^ O ^
-427 -
iSJf^ ^
P.T. He who lifts his head high pretentiously will
he attacked by adversaries from all sides.
^
O W.L0 ji)b JT®
T. Who would have roses should put up with the thorns.
E, E, No pains ? no gains. There is no rose without
a thorn.
^ O ^
P. He who eats his corn green in the ear ? when the har¬
vest comes > will have to go a - gleaning.
Notes. (1 ) (khavict) is an unripe ear of corn.
(2) Some texts have foj-
T. He who eats the bread of his own labour need be
under no obligation to ffa^- Ta/ ( an Arab proverbial
for generosity and hospitality ) .
ii' 3^
<? <r j&>
( T*,^ T. He who gives advice
to a self - opinioned person? needs to be given advice
by others. See Note under ■d' etc.
C.*Vlt E. He who will
not listen to advice must have a taste for hearing reproach.
^ ^
bAij) T. Every one sees his own picture
in the water (E c. thinks about > or concentrates on > his
own interests). ( Often cited when two persons are at cross
purposes } . Cf. etc.
3^ sC?
jkitf ^^iC) 4-.^ jA P. I • A good name is the
result of good acts.
'<0?> sO?
^iSrjtb ( SAnte as W* 1^^ etc, )
O
- 428 -
E, E. Jack of all trades > (is ) master
of none { or Jack of all trades is of no trade ) .
f p >
He who can do anything can do nothing ( well ) .
^^■ The fewer the
poultry » the less often one has to shoo them away.
E. E, Much coin ^ much care.
Note, is a word equivalent to the E. “Shoo!”
and is used in driving away domestic fowls.
J c.<Xa- ^
( Same as ^ etc, )
_ 2^^ o- 3^
All is not gold that glitters.
T, Everything that is round is not a walnut.
Notes. (1) Shakespeare has
“ All that glitters is not gold »
Often have you heard that told. ”
( 2 ) Sometimes the pvh. is extended so as to read
C-in!
where the first part means “ Every walnut is round ” .
a*) j\ jrjb (S ee under j{\ etc, )
<s
j*** ^P. T. The hair on a fool’s head
never grows grey. (This is because fools have no worry} .
(j j ( 5“^^ under
J:>\:^\ etc.) ‘ ^ J J ^
_ a^g -o-
{s 4rijiLx> jib
. Uon t do the worst you can to your enemy , for per¬
chance he may some day become a friend.
C cjjj jJi <CiT y-jb T. He never dies
whose heart is alive with love.
^ o ^
^ ■ Every flower has its odour ( / e
Lverything has its merit-often referring to each one of
- 429 -
a Specified number of things or persons ).
JJ. U OwCr* F. T, For every one who
consumes rubbish there must be a rubbish shop.
Literally j means ‘ putrefied or decayed ’ >
*-0 t one who eats food which has gone bad ’ > and
-H * one who cooks such food ’ .
a> <Ulb h )
T. All the months of the year have their disaster » but it
is Saiat which is notorious for being disastrous.
Cf. the E. All the months of the year curse a fair Feb-
rueer ( February ).
Note, (Safar) is the second month of the Arabic
lunar year > which was considered inauspicious.
05jijT jiijs- jto E. E, Every herring
must hang by its own gill.
T. Every fowl is hung by its own feet.
^(Same as etc,)
2^ -C3- O
(Same as iS^y. etc. )
(^) Every tide has its ebb.
(b) A flow will have an ebb. ( c ) After night comes the
dawn, (d) After sorrow comes joy.
Every declivity has its acclivity.
Note. Sa'*di has b iSj\y j-* j t53l> l-> ^
3^ -O' 2^
Cm-( <-r ^(Jl& c—( wLT <r J jtb
F. T. Put an end to the story
Of the living and the dead >
Set aside the famous book )
For it’s time to go to bed.
Notes. (1) The P. has j which means ‘any¬
thing good or bad (2) This verse» though primarily cited
by one who proposes the breaking up of an evening party>
may also be loosely used in other instances > as when it is
- 430 -
proposed to cut short a conversation and sit down to table.
J ^ thousand blessings and a single
instance of good health. { This means that good health is
as good as} or even better than * a thousand blessings } .
t si4j jttt cd <^jI> T, a thousand tares
are watered for the sake of one stalk of wheat, C^ad peo¬
ple ) being parasites on good people i owe their existence
to these '} .
8^ * 8^
C-J Ja <r C.-1 Ja JLs- J
P. T. The guest has a thousand fancies of which the host
has not one.
3^ * 3^8
^ ^(Same as ^ etc.)
3^ <5* 8^3
v,^ J F. T. The world has a thou¬
sand worries for every instance of festivity. (Lit. ) It has
a thousand mournings and one wedding.
8^ O 3^8
T. A single stone is enough to
fly a thousand crows.
Note. This is exactly the same as the Turkish pvb.
jl; J-lb
8^8 <3- 8^
1 . Of a thousand promises
made by beauties not one is fulfilled.
C.A*J t jiA i . O peach? fall into my mouth ( lit.
throat ) . (This is what the inactive or lazy fellow would
say when sitting under the peach-tree) .
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is ^ ‘
wXif 4.7
3^8 O 5^8
^-7c** \j ^jJ^C
P. T. He eats with Mo-avieh and prays with'^i/'^
E. E. He runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds.
ote, .jh> ( I'Ao ~ ^v 'ieh ) was the Ommiad caliph
- 431 -
around whom the populace gathered because he was rich
and influential. Ali , the Prophet’s son-in-law j who was
Opposed by vish i had nothing to invite people to
except prayeis.
T, Deprived of both
the pottage of Ghom and the porridge of K^shAH. ( Cited
in similar instances } .
J ^ I T. It is the Same pottage and the
same bowl {/. s, the same old story in the same old way).
S dlANf T. It is the san e black ass?
following the same road to the mill. [Referring to a state
of affairs which has made no improvement).
../"*** vl3 ^
i . The superiority of the Honin over the other birds
due to the fact that it feeds on bones) and does not tor¬
ment any animal.
Note. Ua is a fabulous bird) but has been translated
into ‘ osprey ’ because of the etymological meaning of
the word.
^ ^ T, Ambition on thy part and strength
on God’s part.
E. E. (Same as for cS y ji etc. )
•-> J.4> (»* J O .>1 —ii 0 only he
received the lash and ate the onionS) but he paid the
penalty > as well. [ Erom the followirig anecdote :
A man had once committed an offence and had to be
punished by the governor) who imposed on him to choose
either punishment by lashes ? or eat a certain quantity of
raw onions ) or else to pay a penalty of lOO tomans. The
offender first submitted to eating the onions > but after
he had eaten a portion ) and found that he could
eat no more ? he was prepared to leccive the lashes.
- 432 -
Here again when he had been given a few lashes •> he
felt that he could endure no more > so he chose the last
alternative 9 i. e. the payment of the fine.
Notes. ( 1 ) The anecdote has been related in diffe¬
rent forms I all of which refer to cases when a person
must undergo several penalties because he has failed to
choose a milder alternative at the outset. ( 2 ) To assume
a proverbial shape the verbs of the P. sentence could be
put in the infinitive mood ( i. e. and ) .
Ia ©oij; I* jA F. T, It serves both
as a “ halPa ” for the dead ? and as a stew for the living,
{Said of a thing which has multiple uses j or > jocularly »
of a person who is helpful in several respects } .
Note. l>-b- ( halvsi ) is a kind of soft sweetmeat ->
which > on the death of a person j is distributed free of
cost by his relatives among peoples so that they may pray
for his soul.
< 03 -^* T. He seeks both God and dates.
F. E. (a) One cannot eat one’s cake and have it. (b) He wants
to have it both ways, (c) He wants the best of both worlds.
E. Both a worldly and a spiritual reward.
(Lit ) Both dates and a spiritual reward.
E. E. Both a duty and a pleasure.
^IbXcJh F. T. Though Hamadsifi is
far off > the plot of land is here. { Efotn the Tollowhig
auecdote } / -
A man once claimed to have jumped over wide plots
while he was in Hamad^n. Those who were present, and
knew that he was a mere braggart , said to him, “Though
Hatnad^^n is far off , there are other plots near by (like
those of the province ) ” .
^^ r. It is better to know each other’s
mind than to know each other’s language.
com -
- 433 -
Cu»t T, It is Both pilgrimage and
merce. C/. <^\jS ^ {a^ ^
Note. A variant form replaces ojL j ty ^
means ‘ touring ’ .
which
j-i aU Jj T. May no one have a bad neighbour,
c. b. There’s talk of the Turk and Pope , but ’ tis my
next neighbour does me the harm.
, «• sS
<iL^ F. T. Before buying the house ,
inijuire aBout your neighbour.
£. E. You must ask your neighbour if you shall live in peace.
This is very much the same as the A. pvb
jUJI e. < the neighbour before the house ’ , which
IS often cited by the Iranians.
Jiifj! .>1 AjL-cA F. r. Better a neighbour that
IS near you than a brother that is far f
ly ly.y- C'T e/c.
Cf
rom you.
T. a good neighbour in
this world is a blessing from God.
E, A good neighbour j a good morrow.
sJk -cj- §5?
^.0 Ij a.;r ^ 5 jl> l_* <jUcA T. Help me , my
neighbours, so that I may be able to do my housekeeping.
I bald to , or of , a woman who usually docs her house
work with the help of other women } .
Note. originally means the way of handling
or managing a husband.
^7^ All ill - matched spouse is
( like ) an ill - matched patch*
T. It serves both as a table -
cloth , and a bathing-cloth (or loin-cloth ) . (Said of an
article which serves a number of purposes. See tiCJ
atid the anecdote related thereto'^
28
- 434 -
( ) mcJ J Jii One gets amusement and has his
fortune told as well. ( Cited in similar instances ) .
JU*) <> JLjl 01 ^ \j F.T. No one likes to see
*•« •
his fellow - tradesman.
E. E. Two of a trade ( can ) never agree.
Note. Some people have added to this pvb.
/. e, “ and an unemployed man does not
like to see any one of them. ”
>i? cji'i ^
T. Your companion should he superior to you > so that
your wisdom and piety may increase.
o' ■>* a* I can excel my com¬
panion only when he is good. C/. the ptecedittg ejttfy.
T. Not every cloud brings rain.
E. E. All is not gold that glitters.
^ p.
wUb ^ C..to J T, All these fires come
out of sucii a person’s grave ( /. e. all these troubles find
their origin in him ) .
^ T, The subject of
the whole dispute is Mtillah^s quilt. {Sattie as oUJ^ 1^^
etc. q. V. )
> U 7. To drive all with the same
stick ( /. e. to apply a judgment or conclusion to all
cases indiscriminately ’> to treat all alike ) .
3 ^ -O' 2 ^
O ^ T. All are bitten by the snake i
we arc bitten by the beetle. Said by a person who is
harassed or defeated by one who is much inferior to him¬
self in power or rank } .
Note. is a kind of beetle - either the blaps ?
or the churchyard beetle.
^ O ^
-43S-
! c*m 1 f h, T, Everything
has teen arranged for » and it is now only the hlunt
knife ? which needs to be furnished with a handle. £ Said
ironically when it is proposed to handle a minor affair »
while matters of vital importance are left outstanding } .
Cf. etc.
^
^ E, E. Jack of all trades> and master of none.
t. One who can do anything; and is capable of doing no¬
thing ( well ) .
Note, A variant form of this expression makes it an
entire sentence » thus ! •jK" i. e. he who can
do anything can do nothing ( well ) .
2^ <3- 2^
I . Every one’s teeth are set on edge by eating sour things;
except the judge whose teeth are blunted by sweets ( /. c.
bribery ) . C/. the Spannish pvb. “ Like the judges of
Galicia j who for half a dozen chickens will dispense with
a dozen penal statutes ” .
25^ * 2S
jj; ( Same as <*->>■ etc. )
25^ *0-
^ E. E. Christmas comes but once a year.
E. T. The excrement of every ass does not consist of dates.
( Lit. The ass does not always cast off dates ) .
Note. The ass to which reference is made in this
pvb. is the monstrous beast on which ( Dajjal ) ; the
Impostor; or the Mohammedan Anti-Christ; rides before
the advent of the Tweilth Emam.
* 3 ^
T. The shell does not always
contain a pearl.
• *•
^ULw6-te F. T, Should it always be
March? Let it once be April. (Referring to the necessity of
changing things by turn } .
Note, ( Sha^ban ) and o'-"-* ( Ramazan ) are A.
- 436 -
lunar month?} and are also used aS masculine proper names.
is the same peach and the
Same throat.
E. E. (It is ) the same old story in the same old way.
jT wFjj) oojij <tr \j uy^^ ame as ^ l>il etc. )
E. E. 1) (a) To lay it on thick
{ or with a trowel ) . ( b ) To puff up ( Of fawn upon )
Some one. 2) To brave some one.
T. To put a water-melon under some one’s arm.
2 ^ < 3 -
JJ! ji/b T. Virtue is the great¬
est vice in the enemy’s eye (i/^. in the eye of enmity) .
2^ * SSS
4) ,^1—ci)
C ^ T. Show merit > if
you have any » not descent > the rose comes from the
thorn bush j as Abraham from Azar. ( See Note on Azat
on page 349 ) .
E. E, Clean water often comes out of a mucky spout.
Jto ^ viUx> j\ F. T. One’s virtue {or art) is better
than property and wealth bequeathed by one’s father.
2CS
J 4.^^^ j^ib T. Art is a living foun¬
tain ) and an everlasting fortune.
E. E. An artist lives everywhere.
F. T. The mosque
is hardly completed » yet the blindman is already sitting at
its door. { Cited in similar instances }
2^ iJ’ 3^
C.-1 ( <(*,* L ) C.-I Jjto P. T. A rival wife
IS after all one’s rival , though she may be as ugly as
a pitcher.
« 8 ^
- 437 -
** *** ••
c. £. (a) Bad ware is never cheap, (b) Cheap is dear in
the long run.
P. There is no cheap thing without some reason for its
cheapness j and the same is true for dear things.
^ Seldom comes a better.
There was never anything so bad for which there was
a better replacement.
E. E. Honesty is the best policy.
Notes. (1) renders two E. words: truthfulness
and honesty » while is the proper word for the latter.
(2) originally means cheating or dishonesty.
it ( Same as ^ etc. )
jt^ E. T, There is nothing that can
serve as a condition for something else (/. e. no statement
should be considered peremptory 5 and no reasoning could
be Said to be absolute ) .
<- <r ^ E. T. No twos but threes.
E. E. The third time ( is ) never like the rest.
Note. A variant form of this phrase is y*
5S^ * 2^
There is no smoke without fire.
* 5 * *
. fi. ( a ) It is a long lane that has no turning.
( b ) After night comes the dawn.
T. Don’t worry , as there is no road without an end.
SC^ <3- O
E. r. No one ever learned
anything by himself ( /. e. without training under a
teasher ) .
. 2^2 <3- O
E. No one will be buried
in another person’s grave. This means that every one is
-438-
responsible for his own sins ) .
^ C»:^ E.E. No one cries stinking fish.
T, No one will say his grapes are sour. etc.
8«8 -tJ- ^
fjt*^ ^U£?j jjisp&o No cat catches
mice merely for God’s sake. ( Nobody does anything for
nothing ( Of free of charge ) ) .
fj y* (See under l->
l5
P. T, A horse which leads the
caravan carries the nose-hag.
Note. ^is properly a pack-horse or sumpter.
2^ -O' sSs
<ipj 1) b E. E. Either win the saddle or lose the horse.
F. T. Either the throne or the coffin. Cf. ^1: etc.
Notes. { 1 ) The beauty of the P. lies in that
is a derivative of . ( 2 ) is properly the plank on
which the body of the dead is washed.
yiy l_i k P. P. “ Either give me a reply ’h said the
beggar* “or get the reward” ( /. e. Either give me a flat
denial* or win the spiritual reward for giving me something).
U b T, Either God or dates.
E. E, ( Same as for \j ^ etc. )
2^ -O 2^
b ^ Either all blood or all pus.
C/. h etc.
2^ SC8
jIfiAib jjibi jb ( See Note under J^l etc.)
^1} A F. T. If friends will keep* the talk will
keep. { Cited by one who proposes the adjournment of a
friendly meeting } .
{ iSjiy- ) Oj jb :>( b M ij)
T. A bad friend is worse than a dangerous serpent i Keep
aloof as far as possible from a bad friend.
E. E. Better be alone than in bad company.
-440-
C fa_r 40 1 yjU r. God forbid that the
beggar should come upon fortune \
E. E. (a) Set a beggar on horseback; he’ll ride to the devil,
(b) Beggars mounted run their horses to death.
45l;> jU ( See under etc^)
4) ObtiJ; T. A friend above ground is better
than a husband below.
Cf, the E. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
Note. A variant form replaces by or
which is bookish.
4i jU F.T. So far as possible try to be an
active companion to others > not a burden on their minds.
(From a quotation in Golestsin ) .
T. An old friend is (like) a saddled
horse { /. e, always ready to serve )
Old friends and old wine are best.
8 ^ ■{}■ 8 ^
jl_, E. E. A friend
friend indeed.
One^should tell a good friend in adve
Cr. etc.
in need
rsity.
IS
a
3^ o 2^
^ ^ ^ F. Where there is no money or force)
one has to resort to imploring.
Psote. The alliteration in the three words «.
and gives a proverbial colour to the phrase.
^ b 7 . Either be a pure Ethiopian
or a full-blooded Roman. C/. the E. Neither fish) nor
flesh » nor good red herring.
Note. The E. pvb. should be made to read “Either
fish , or flesh , or good red herring ” , if it ia to fit in
exactly with the P.
SSS <3- 8^
441
uW oMT* b ^ b E, E. Either win the saddle or lose
the horse.
Either the head will he lost j or the hat will be won.
To play a lyre (in vain) to an ass.
7". To read the chapter of Y^sin in an ass’s ear.
Note. crwL ( YsiSin ) is the title of a certain Surah
( or chapter ) of the Koran.
,5jt^<ib> b ii
T". You can either he a
gadabout or a good housewife.
jtl f ^ ^ T. Either be a bird and fly » or
be a camel and carry loads. Cf. **^5^ etc. Cf. also
the E. pvb. Neither fish •> nor flesh j nor good red her¬
ring j and the Note appended to it.
b b E. T. Either a strong fist or some one to sup¬
port you, cf. Jjl.? c etc.
^ Si ^
( cSWU- y L» U I
r. Either you should not make friends with the elephant-
driver » or you should build a house fit for the elephant.
E. (a) He that sups with the Devil must have a long
Spoon, (b) He that takes the devil into his boat must carry
him over the sound .
8^2 * 3 ^
1-.9J b ^^-1
J . Either say not what you would not have fulfilled > or
fulfil what you promise.
jb ^wC ^Pl b b I. Either do not be
married to an ass j or carry the ass’s load.
E. E. (a) He that takes the devil into his boat must carry
him over the sound. ( b ) You must lie on the bed you
have made.
^ O ^
-442-
T, Either fidelity did not exist in the world to begin with)
or no one practised it in these times.
His plan fell through! his scheme fell flat.
(2) His joke fell flat.
His ice did not take (meaning either that the water was
not frozen into ice j or that the ice was soon melted )
<}• 8^
^ as *->^ c—j etc. )
Ct ^ o
0«l (<*rjr. Though Yazd is far off, the
measure is here. {From the following anecdote) : ^
A native of Yazd was employed as a weaver in a
weaving factory in I sfsihsin . But while at work he used
to claim boastingly that he wove so many metres of
cloth each day when he was in Yazd, The manager of
the factory » who could guess that he was a braggart ,
only said to him, “ Though is far off, the measure
( or metre ) is here. ” By this he meant that there
was always an opportunity for him to prove his claim.
C/, 0-1 etc.
Notes. (1) ^ is an ell or metre. (2) A variant form
of this pvh, is ? jF 0 JJ:, Which is out of
reach - Yazd or the metre ?
ajt * 2^
I know too well what you mean ! { The
literal meaning of this phrase , as well as its purpose ,
may be understood from the following anecdote ) :
There was a certain Mullah who had such a great
dislike for dried whey that he did not even like to hear
its name. In order to provoke him all the more , those
who knew him nicknamed him “ Mullah Dried Whey ”
h^inally he had to request the local magistrate to issue an
order whereby no one should call him by that nickname.
The day after the promulgation of the order when
the Mullah was passing in the market-place, some one
called him by the nickname Mullah Sugar Candy ” ,
whereupon he retorted , ‘‘ You mean ‘ Dried Whev ’ ,
don’t you ? ”
-443-
Note, According to the original P. anecdote j this man
was an “ h^khond ” , /. e, a theologian and tutor > hut the
title Mullah has Been used here Because the E. people are
more acquainted with the word. The actual nickname ,
which was given to the man was ( \khond
Kashkt ) where is an adjective derived from
(dried whey ) . Now ? since also means in modern
colloquial Persian “ phoney or sham ” » the nickname
might simply have been given to express that he was “no
true theologian ” .
S I T, One gazelle and a hundred hounds,
c. E. (a) The game is not worth the candle. (B) The play
won’t pay the candles. Cf, vi—I ^
siB F. 1 . He will not allow a single
millet to fall from his hand. Cf. 31
E. ( a ) He won’t give away the droppings of his nose,
(b) He is close-fisted.
^ One pomegranate and a hundred sick
men.
English pat all el, One post and a hundred applicants.
viB T. One grape and a hundred Bees.
Cf, the preceding entry,
ty> ^
^ ^ F. One child is too fewj two
are too many .
vilpci* J—> ^ i 45 ***^ c
1. “ You hopped off safely once ? little locust i
You hopped off safely twice i little locust »
The third ti me you are caught in a man’s hand. ”
V The story to which this quotation is connected is
found in the Book of Persian Tales j which is a trans¬
lation of 5 8 Kernistni and Bakhtiafi tales by D. L. K.
Lorimer and E, O. Lorimcr. Owing to the exquisite nature
-444
of the translation? I am inserting Below the exact version?
as it appears in that Book ? more particularly Because
I feel I have to mention the valuable services of ? and
pay a tribute to ? those who have shown such a keen in¬
terest in Persian folklore ) : -
“ Once upon a time there was a time
when there was no one But God.
There was a man who had a wife ? and one day she went
to the public Baths. While she was at the Bath she saw a
lady of very high rank arrive who gave orders that every
one else should be turned out so that she might have the
Bath to herself. The woman was very much annoyed ? and
when she came out she asked : “ Whose wife was that ? ’’
“ That ? ” they said ? “ is the wife of the King’s Chief
Fortune-Teller , ”
She went home ? caught her husband By the collar
of his coat ? and said : “ Come ? go you and Become a
Fortune-Teller ! ” “ But ? ” said he ? “I can’t Become a
k ortune - Teller ? I don’t know how to divine or to tell
fortunes. ” ‘‘I can’t help that ? ” retorted she ? “either
you Become a Fortune-Teller or you give me a divorce,”
So the husband went off to the Bazaar and Bought a divi“
ning-Board and dice and went and sat in the street near
the door of the public Baths ? and put the divining - Board
in front of him.
Now it chanced that on that very day the King’s
Daughter had gone to the bath ? and when she was un¬
dressing she had given a ring to one of her slave-
women to keep for her. For safety the woman had put it
in a hole in the wall and had put a little wisp of hair at
the mouth of the hole.
When the King’s Daughter came out of her Bath she
asked for the ring ? But the poor slave - woman had mean¬
while quite forgotten where she had hidden it and was at
her wits end. The Princess was very angry ? and said :
If you don t find the ring I’ll have you Beaten. ” The
slave “ woman ? in terror of a Beating ? ran out of the
Baths? and her eye fell on the Fortune-Teller. She was
delighted? and went up to him and sat down and told him
-445-
all about the affair > and said : “ Divine now for me and
see where the ring is.
Now the unhappy Fortune-Teller hadn’t the least
idea how to divine i and he began to nod his head and cast
the dice » and he looked at the board and wondered and
wondered what he should say. As he looked about his eye
fell on the woman » and he saw a little rent in her cloak;
and through the hole he caught sight of a piece of her
hair > so he muttered =
“ I see a little hole there ;
And in the hole a little hair.”
No sooner had he uttered these words than the woman
remembered where she had put the ring j and she ran in
immediately and found it. And the news of this wonderful
Fortune-Teller reached the ears of the King’s Daughter »
and she told the whole story to her father.
Then the King sent and bade them bring the man »
and said ; “ You shall be my Fortune-Teller in Chief » ”
and he gave him money and a horse and .a robe of honour.
Not long after this the King’s Treasury was broken
into and robbed. Then the King sent for his Fortune -
Teller j and said : “ You must find me the thieves.” The
poor man asked for forty days’ grace > and came home to
his wife and said = See now what you have done. You
have put me in danger of my life » for how am I to find
out the thieves ? There is nothing for us but to fly at
the end of the forty days. ”
Then » in order not to lose count of the time > he
put forty dates into a vessel i and said to his wife :
Bring me one of these dates each evening j when they
are exhausted ? that very night we shall fly. ”
Now the thieves heard that the Chief Fortune-Teller
had promised the King to find them out. Th ere were *orty
thieves j and they were very much afraid. The leader
said to one of them : Go to the house of the Chief
fortune - Teller and see what he is doing. ” The thief
came to the Fortune-Teller’s house and crept up on the
roof and began to listen. Now it happened that at that
very moment the wife brought one of the dates and gave
— 446 —
it to her husband 5 and he said = “ The first of the fortyi
my dear. ” And the thief » when he heard these words j
thought the Fortune-Teller meant to say : “ The first of
the forty thieves has come » ” and he was terrified ? and
fled and brought the news to his leader.
Next evening he sent two men together to find out
what was happening » and just as before they heard the
Fortune-Teller say to his wife : “ Two of the forty > my
dear and ? in short » so it went on each evening till
the fortieth.
On the last day the leader of the thieves said : “ I’ll
go myself to-night. ” At the very moment that he got
on the roof and began to listen it happened that the wife
brought her husband the last of the dates ? which was
also the biggest of them all 1 and gave it into his hand.
And he said: “ Well > welli to-night it’s the last and the
biggest of the lot.” When the thief heard these words he
thought the Fortune-Teller meant to say: “To-night
the leader of the thieves has come.” He was greatly frigh¬
tened 5 and came down quickly and went in and began
to beg and implore the Fortune-Teller ? saying; “ We’ll
give back the whole treasure safely into your hands for
you to restore to the King on condition that you do not
reveal our names.”
The Chief Fortune-Teller was extremely delighted »
and took all the moneys and treasures and precious stones j
and went early in the morning and brought them to the
King. And the King gave him money and presents and
robes of honour.
Now after some time the King went out hunting one
day. While he was hunting he saw a locust and tried to
catch it ) but it escaped. A second time he tried > again it
leaped away. The third time > however > he caught it and
held it tight in the hollow of his fist. He came up to
the Fortune-Teller and asked ; “What is it I’ve got in my
hand ? ” The unfortunate man turned yellow with fear
and began to cast his dice > and i thinking of his own his¬
tory y began to mutter :
-447-
You hopped off safely once ) little locust >
You hopped off safely twice j little locust i
The third time you are caught in a man’s hand. ”
The King naturally imagined that the Fortune-Teller
was answering his question and was greatly pleased f and
gave him gifts in plenty. But the Chief Fortune-Teller
thought within himself that he must do something to pre¬
vent their setting him any more problems.
One day he was sitting in the bath j and he thought
to himself : “ I’ll pretend to be mad. I’ll run along just
as I am into the King’s castle r and embrace the King ^
and carry him out in my arms. Then he will say • ‘ The
fellow’s mad ’ > and they’ll ask me no more questions )
but leave me in peace. ”
So he went and did as he had said. Scarcely had he
seized the King in his arms and carried Kim out of the
castle when the roof of the King’s chaVnber fell in with
a crash. Thereupon said the Fortune-Teller: “I was just
sitting in my bath casting my dice when I saw - the roof
of the King’s chamber is going to fall in and he will be
killed ! That was why I didn’t even wail to put on my
clothes but ran hither naked as I was and saved the King’s
life. ”
The King was very grateful » and gave him money
and great wealth.
Some time afterwards the wife of the Fortune -
Teller went to the bath in great state. She caught sight
of the wife of the former Fortune-Teller in Chief and
she ordered that they should turn her out of the bath.
This she did in revenge for the past.
And now my story has come to an end ?
but the sparrow never got
home. ”
( See under ^tc. )
25 k -0 358
The fewer your goats
are * the less trouble you have in driving them.
E, E, Much coin f much care.
-448-
Note. is an exclamation used for driving goats >
etc.
^ l_A y ^ ji on® goat
jumps over a stream ? all the others follow him. i Fvb.
applicable to people who imitate others in their fashions
and behaviour}.
Note, The verb 0**i^. as used in this pvb. may be
replaced by its synonym of
_ ^ ^
^ U JT Cb E. H. ( a ) One scabbed sheep can
mar the whole flock, ( b ) One rotten apple spoils the
whole barrel.
J . One scabbed goat will make the ( whole ) flock
Scabbed. Cf, J:> etc,
Mo has one foot
in the grave .
T. He has one foot in this world > and the other in the
next,
6 jA»tt sib T. A pennyworth of roasted
liver does not need a table-cloth of printed calico.
{Pfee 1 y) A small collop does not need a large table.
Notes. ( 1 ) A variant form of this pvb. replaces
Jji ( which is now worth 2 5 dhiars) by which
is worth 10 dhiafs. (2) (nernikhsid ) is a colloquial
contraction of ^^d better suits the rythm of
the phrase.
y sJ3^ «ib ( Same as
^ etc. )
3 'ib (See the full phrase ^ ^.)
2S8 -O' sjg
^ ^ ^ tib E. E. ( a ) He that hunts two
hares at once will catch neither, (b) Jack of all trades 1
master of none.
E, T. He who is in a single place is everywhere » while
-449-
he who is everywhere is nowhere.
jJaC F, T, Detract something
from your wit j and you will be allowed to do anything
you like.
Note^ literally means a grain of barley.
* $
0*5 Jj F, 1 , ^ grain of boldness
is worth pounds of gold. ( Lif, ) A grain of boldness is
better than a whole village.
Cf, the E. Bashfulness is the enemy to poverty.
Note, jj originally means ‘‘ face ” » and is used in
such phrases as D iSjj i. e. I don’t have the face
for it. It is often used in compound adjectives as
“ cheeky ” and “ bashful or shy ” .
OtX^ vih He cried with one eye
and laughed with the other.
8 ^ * ^
o^i^ A5 (.hub y Ai ^ want a stick
that is neither wet > nor dry 1 nor twisted, { Said in cases
when a person has contrary demands } .
^ o ^
4>1 js^ r. A ruined bath -
house does not need forty men to take care of people’s
clothes,
E, E. Eleven grooms for a one-eyed horse !
(ji J.5 sib T, Put also an unbaked brick on top
of the pot. [From the following anecdote']:-
A newly - married woman* who did not know cookery
at all 5 and who had been ordered by her husband to cook
a certain dish > found herself obliged to ask one of her
neighbours to give her a verbal recipe for the required
dish. But while she was being told the various instructions*
after hearing each one she used to say proudly * “I knew
as much myself ” * instead of expressing her thanks to
her neighbour. The latter finally grew angry at such ingra-
29
-450
tilude j and closed up the recipe by Saying ? “ When you
have done all this > put an unbaked brick on top of your
pot . ’’
The proud and silly woman believed the last instruc¬
tion as well » and acted accordingly. But the steam from
the pot gradually softened the brick until it fell down
into the pot » and so the food was mixed with earth.
Note. The ph rase is cited in cases when a person who
lias learned something from another j rather than being
grateful for it » pretends to have known it herself before.
It amounts to saying > If you had known it yourself ?
why did you ask ?
A single bereavement is
enough to affect a whole family.
I\ote, The second hemistich to this is
«■
/. e. A thousand lamps can be lit from a single wick.
J [\ I . Take one line and stick to it.
( Lit. ) Take hold of one door j and hold it firmly.
E. E. ( Sa}ue as for U u etc, )
0*“'*'^ '<^1 J T. To hold one hand
in front of one> and the other behind one’s back (to cover
one s nakedness) . ^ Phrase indicating extreme poverty} .
E. T. It takes two hands to clap.
( Lit. ) One hand makes no (clapping) noise.
E. E. Union is strength.
Note, A variant form of this pvb. is o-o «ih
? b ^ f— jciA) sib
E. T. My hands beirg full i one holding a rifle and the
other a sword , did you expect me to fight with my
teeth ? ( Said by a coward > who was asked why he had
been taken prist ner 7 in spite of being equipped with
various arms } .
3^ 5Ct
-451 -
(2) A Variant for m
—
There was never a
an intrusive tore.
C—I One enemy is too many ,
a hundred friends are too few.
Notes, ( 1 ) Xhe E. has “ One enemy is too much
Tor a man tn a great post , and a hundred friends are
too few. ” If the words in italics are taken out the E.
Becomes an exact equivalent of the P.
of this pvb. is ->h—; ^ ‘^-1 ^ V
F, T
moment when we could live without
{ Cited in similar instances } .
Note. The first ( or second ) hemistich to this is
^ i. e. Satan has never allowed
US to worship (God ) .
^ ^ <) I 6^ 7 , One inhabited village is bet¬
ter than a hundred ruined ones.
IJ I cU,
A fool may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred
wise men cannot pull out.
has “ Fools tie knots? and wise men
loose them”, the second part of which should Be made to
read in this case “and a hundred wise men cannot loose them.”
_ -n- 2^
<, h) Cllcj viB F. T. a single favour
on the part of the judge is worth more than a thousand
witnesses.
^ o ^
7. He hasn^t got a single straight
intestine ( /. e. He is a confirmed liar).
^ ^F,, He lies as fast as a dog ( or horse ) can trot.
Note, The P. phrase is of a joculatory nature ? as »
indeed » the bowels are mostly sinuous,
Jw ^ . Buy one day some of
the things you have been selling throughout the year
( It is time for you to reap what you have so far sown) .
F. E. As you sow 1 so shall you reap.
“452-
c T. We are your guests for
one day > ( but ) we pray for your health for a hundred
years, ( Said by a guest who intends to lessen his host’s
worry } .
o
r. You have one
tongue and two ears i say a single word and hear two.
E, E, Wide(r) ears and a short tongue.
Notes, (1) is the imperative of the verb
“ to listen or hear ” . { 2 ) The thought of hearing more
and talking less has been nicely expressed in the following
quatrain by - zal :
JfUcT j J
J <_ 5 -
which may be freely translated as follows :
Speak little and say what is best i
Speak only when you’re spoken to »
Listen twice and speak only once ,
As the longue is one and the ears are two.
oU < ojj oU Jl- F. T. If you eat
bread and leek for one yean you can eat bread and butter
every year. ( Being thrifty for a short time makes one
prosperous for a much longer period }
Note. A variant form of this pvb. replaees •J' j jU
by J i. e. chickens and lambs.
_ o
M 1 ^.5 O^U- V^, T. He has not a single star in
all the seven skies. (Said of a very indigent person) .
I o e, -J — (star) may also be taken to mean a good
or lucky star , and hence the phrase could alio be taken
to mean “He is very unlucky or ill-starred. ”
, O « O
J vib F, T. He is single-handed , but has
a thousand affairs to attend to. ( Lit. ) He has one head
and a thousand affairs ( Of cares )
Note. A variant form of this phrase is c~.\ ^ db
-453-
Jlj* j i. e. He is one head , e«c.
-O- ^
F. T. Prick yourself
with a sewing-needle before pricking others with a packing-
needle ( /. e. First try on yourself a little of what you
mean to do to others ) . Cf, ^ <^7
O lib E. E. They are as like as two
peas in a pod .
T. One apple has been cut in two halves.
C-t? ol-a-T <! <-r I
Juy T. An apple throwA'into "the air
turns many times (before it falls back to the ground ) .
c. E, There is many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip
*7^ >rr' 'r ‘“One night fever, and the next
night death. (This is often preferred to being confined to
bed for a long time > and wearying the attendants . with
no hopes of recovery ) .
^ F. T. Better fill one stomach
than keep ten half-filled. Cl, jLT <il etc,
. J vih F, T, One should not he under a double
obligation for a single meal.
• ^ ^ ^ . A single town and two different rates !
i Cited in similar instances ? and> proverbially? when equal
circumstances are governed by different rules 1 .
Cl, \j |Ji. (j. etc.
■£?. ‘i V.
F.T. A moment’s patience
Saves a thousand regrets.
iSote, Jn this phrase ,jr^ which is properly the main
element of the compound verb “ to wait ” ? has
also partaken of the nature of an independent substantive?
preceded by the numeral ‘‘ one which seems to be
bad grammar .
-454-
jP. ** One instance of patience and two
blows of breath are always welcome *’ . { From the fol -
lowing anecdote'^
A man once had a greedy guest y who y when meat
was served y put a hot piece of it into his mouth without
blowing at it. While he could not stand the burning meat)
he was too bashful to throw it out ) and hence raised his
head toward the roof y rolling the meat in every part of
his mouth. He was finally noticed in that posture by the
host) and was forced to invent the question > ‘‘ How many
timbers are in that roof ? ’* “ One instance of patience and
two blows of breath was the shrewd answer.
C Apply
Jl-*- etc. ) substituting ‘ a whole lifetime ’
for Jl-* (Jr?" ‘ after forty years ’ } .
• ^ ^ kachi and a
hundred pipers! {See explanations of and
on pages 321 and 258 respectively } .
Note, The connection of v^^-food prepared for par¬
turient women-and - a piper or oboist - is explained
by the fact that roving pipers used to enter houses of partu¬
rient women to entertain congratulating guests > and were
in all probability given a portion of the kachi .
2^8 < 3 - 2^8
at/ (fv) T- To ( exaggerate and ) make
forty crows of one. {From the following anecdote'] :•
A man > who had found a treasure - trove ) intended
to confide the secret to his wife. But before doing so »
he wished to try her in order to make sure that she was
a good confidante. So one day he said to her » “ Darling y
to-day while I was easing nature a crow flew out of my
bottom ) but this is a secret that you must keep to your¬
self. ” “ All right ’* 1 Said his wife » “ you may be sure
it will not be divulged. ”
However > the woman gave out the secret to her
neighbour y to whom she Said ) “A pair of crows have
flown out of my husband’s bottom. ” The neighbour > in
her turn > told tlie story to another neighhour j making
the number of crows to be three. And so went the story
from mouth to mouth until the number of the crows
reached forty. { Story showing how rumours are exag -
gerated ) .
(Same as etc. save that
here “a hundred” has been substituted for “a thousand”) ,
^ ^ o
• Better a small kitchen
than a large stable { /. €, a great number of livestock ) .
Cf. etc,
(a) It is a Barmecide feast, (b) Much bruit ? little
fruit.
Notes, (1) jg e)] Qj. njetre. (2) “Bruit ” is
an archaic word meaning “ rumour ” or “ report ” .
J:, S E. E. To kill two birds with one stone.
T. One stick and two cuckoos. Cf. jy h etc,
J jr E. E, ( With him it
goes) in at one ear and out at the other. etc,
^ . One of his ears is a door i and the other a gate.
fcA ***»^ ' When we
stretched it out it was not enough for one length j so now
we will double it. ^Originally referring to dressing or suiting
material i and proverbially applicable to cases when one
resorts to difficult means for doing a tiling after he lias
failed to do it by an easy means ) .
C ^ 4j ojjj 4) o^jjo E, 2 , A dead person
leaving a good name after himself is better than a hundred
persons who live disgracefully. Cf. etc,
JJ better to iiave a silly
follower ( or devotee ) than a bag of gold.
Notes, is properly a nose-bag. (2) A variant
form of thii pvb. reads as follows :
- 456 -
oi si4j M_y> vib
where the last part means “ than an entire village.
? F. T* A mosque with a single lamp 7
C Cited in similar instances } .
Nofe. ( ghendeel ) is a kind of obsolete lamp
using oil and wick 7 and being suspended from a ceiling.
It was mostly used in mosques. The word seems to be an
Arabicized form of the Latin c andela,
{j **To pluck even one hair
from a bear is a success ( lit. booty ) . { This means that
it is worth while to take any small sum from the miser},
F. £. From a bad paymaster get what you can.
Note. The pvb. begins also with
wLl? Cb jA Cb or ^
( Same as J' *-> )
2 S 8 <3- 3^8
? jl^ ^ One currant and a hundred calenders}
Note. Calender is from ghalandar ^ Arabicized
form of the P. _ a mendicant dervish.
s^s 2 ^
ol« 4) *b tfcib F. 7 . Once you say> “ No 1 ’’ you
will not have to bear the burden (of pregnancy ) for nine
months. ( One refusal prevents a hundred reproaches - in
this case “ bad results ” } .
Notes. ( 1 ) “No’* is the word of refusal by a woman
who is wooed in marriage by a man, (2 ) A variant form
of this pvb. replaces * (burden) on the stomach’ by J**;
(3) is the negative imperative from 0 - 4 ^ “to suffer”.
(c*-«0 J F. E. He who has but one son
makes him a fool .
F. T. One who is single* or the only - begotten child of his
f ath er > is half-witted or mad..
Note. The E. vb. is often cited with the following
introduction = “ He who has but one hog makes him fat ”>
-457 -
which, is considered unnecessary for the purpose on hand.
^ ^ . A true friend is better
than a hundred unsociable brothers.
E. E, Many kinsfolk > few friends. { See also the proverbs
containing the word ) .
^ O ^
One d ies from
hunger j another bursts from surfeit.
Not0, IDehkhods^ gives the variant form
i-TUw** :»l
in which the word “ bursts ” does not come.
JJ F. T. One goes with a hun¬
dred 5 not vice versa. ( Small quantities are usually added
to larger ones } .
E, £. All strive to give to the rich man.
^
Pj! isl *J lT^
^ ^ C^aT* F.T, When the woman said to
her child » ‘‘What beautiful almond-shaped eyes you^ve
got ! ” he said ) “ Mummyi I want some almonds.’’ (Said
in cases when the mention of a thing suggests another
thing > which is not in the game train of thought } .
Cf, the next entry.
Note. In view of the fact that the expression “hazel
eyes” is also used in E. > one may replace “ almond ”
by “ hazel ” > and make the child want “ hazel - nuts ” .
L-cjjs* oflT
^ ^ P, T. When the woman said to her
child » “ I’ll knock you down and squash you ” ? he said ?
“ Mummy ? I want some lemon - squash. ” ( Refer to the
preceding entry } .
Note. ( kotnbezeh ) or ^ means “ unripe me¬
lon ” > which ) when forcibly thrown down ) is broken
open with a great noise.
-458-
P. i . A certain man was fostering a wolf’s cub > but when
it grew up it devoured the fosterer.
E. E, 1) {Same as for i5jl^ etc.) 2) He brought up
a bird to pick out his own eyes.
S 4a. >a C.af= C-< ils- ^^Xj
5 tri ‘ j -^ ,»-* c.«-f*
T. Said A to B > “There is a wedding - party in the Cadi’s
house.” “What is that to you ? ” Said B. “ But I > too »
have been invited to the wedding ” } said A. “ Then > ”
replied B > “ What has it got to do with me ? ”
0-5-> ^ i/k To run with the hare and
hunt with the hounds.
P. T. To strike now on the nail and now on the horse-shoe.
U T C ( h <r ) ^1:>L) h (jtJJW
T. A certain person took his father to the bazaar to sell
him. He was asked » “ Who would sell his own father
He said » “ I will put such a high price on him that no
one will buy him. ” {Quoted when an excessive price is
demanded ) .
^ o ^
^j-^ fc5* 4jl_^ jM oO oi \j
T. A certain person was inquiring where the headman of
the village lived j although he would not be admitted
into the village? to begin with. {Referring to a presump¬
tuous person who has excessive demands? while his small -
est request is refused } .
wCSa!^ c*aP I—j oiO \
T. A certain person; while being bastinadoed; cried; O my
back ! ” “ Why do you mention your back ? ” he was
asked ? “ while it is your feet which are suffering ? ”
“ Because ” ? he replied ? “ Had I some one to back nie ?
- 459 -
I would not be beaten on my feet*”
Note, The beauty of the P. is accounted for by the
pun on the word ‘ back > ” which> in its figurative
sense ? means “ one who backs or supports a person
tj fjiji fjn-O E. E. One man^s meat is another
man^s poison.
T, It is a wholesome drink to one > and a (poisoned ) sting
to another.
iS^jj M "UiS ji4r iji oij" ‘
E. He who finds money on Wednesday says it is a lucky
day 5 while he who loses money on that day says it is
an unlucky day. { The experience of individuals forms
a basis for their judgment} .
Cf, the E, Men speak of the fair as things went with
them there.
2^ <3* S58
1) . c-t b- F. T. One is too
few J two still causes anxiety > but three gives assurance.
.Xi (a_:> ^ ‘
F, One died j the other was putrefied > and the third was
consumed by God’s wrath. {A jocular way of telling how
a number of people disappeared one after another from
a place > and failed to do a thing) .
Note, properly means a carrion or dead corpse.
85? -a- 2 ^
:>
F,T. A certain woman was on the point of starvation? and
some one was asking her whether she wanted some gold-
leaf for her attire. ( Referring to inopportune acts ) .
Note. The vulgar have changed to which
means carrot ” - an indecent word to use in this case.
460 -
T. A certain person had no bread to eat » yet he was eating
onions to whet his appetite.
(J>V) <0t^A J J»- <0fa eo ( Same as cIAj etc. )
<8 * SS
J»r M»M JwX} ja Cti ^ F. T. If the bald
man received from every one a single hair? he would have
a fine head of hair. { Applicable to charitable con -
tributions which ? however small they may be » go far
toward assisting a poor man ) .
2 ^ ■£> 8 ^^
fJi
oJjlsnA Aj 4^; I J 4;L6U oli) (^lojl> ajUsL
** r *
Part Two
Idioms and Collocations
together with a few slang
and colloquial words-
l^ote : This part contains
also certain additional pro -
verbs and proverbial phrases^
which belong to Part One >
and which have been split up
by > and mixed with » the
idioms and idiomatic phrases
for alphabetical reasons.
The asterisk (*) marking
an item means that it has
already been treated in Part
One > and is being repeated
here for better equivalents
or additional comments.
^{-S' J^f
<r (
Jti*l j\ <^Xi j&>
r»* J-^*
L-i ^
-462 -
^ I To water* as the mouth.
3^^ ^Lil wi j f'. T*. In a reservoir where
too many people go for fetching water the hreaking of
pitchers is of frequent occurrence.
E. E. ( Same as for etc, )
Note The sense conveyed by the P. pvb. may also
connote the crowded state of a place which often has
harmful results.
To make water* stale: said of beasts, [l^sth }
*
To supply or fill with water.
0 w* 1 E. E, To carry water in a sieve.
(L/V.) To measure water by a sieve. Cf,
ji w; ( To be equivocal. ( E/J. ) To hold water.
? O — wuHj ? c.)T E. T. You had bread to
eat and wat. r to drink at ease i what then was the idea
of doing such and such an act ? { Said to one who has
done an iricgular act without a good motive } .
* To take 11 ( cold ) bath.
To crop up or originate. {Lit,) To drink water.
w I To (el ectro )plate * coat with silver * gold * etc.
To temper. ( Lit. ) To give a drink to.
To adulterate something with water.
)) ^ ^ E. L, Yazid has taken control of
the watrr. {^See explanatioi /of ^-1 .
Note, Y azid was the Ommiad caliph * by whose
order Em; a.^}1-Hos scin was martyred. He is proverbial for
his cruelty > and is narrated as having debarred the Imam
and his followers from taking water from the Euphrates.
-X-.J T^l I 1. Water has a tendency to flow
downwards. E, E, ( SuDie as for etc, )
To disgrace some one* cast aspersions on
his honour, I literally means “the water of the face}.
^ To moisten. To add water ( to ) ,
*
4,0,^ I iSl Wishy-washy drink* soup * etc. ** mere wash.
" 463 -
^ (^) To flog a dead horse. (b) To carry
water in a sieve .
T. To (try to) harden water. Cf, -?•>
w 1 To he melted or dissolved » also ) to thaw. (Figura¬
tively) To he sold off > he disposed of, Cf.
To melt or dissolve. ( Figuratively ) To sell (or
trade off ) 1 dispose (or get rid) of (one’s goods ) . ( Lit. )
To turn to a liquid.
4> j I T. In winter fire is hetter than
rose. cf. etc.
^ To pour oil on the flames.
T. To fan the fire of one’s anger ? or of a quarrel.
( s-^ } Oi-T aJo
F. T. A blazing fire does not act on wild rue as the sighs
of the oppressed do on the oppressor.
i^ote. is ** smoke ” ? and J-^ figuratively
means a sigh as coming out of one’s heart.
^ (Same as v- etc. )
^ <s ^
Q^Jj “ JJbjj ju JO I ” (Same aso^jjTj:> a, u;y-T)
_ 2^2 * 2^
! . ! ^L) JO(See under )
2^ < 5 - 2^
^ ^ ^ man that can
earn money i it is not money that can find a man.
232 2^
Men do not come twice into the
world. Leading to the conclusion that they should enjoy
as much as possible the pleasures of the world } ,
232 < 3 - 252
^O J^J^ F. They do not cut off a poor man’s
head. Cf.
232 * 232
— 464 —
^ ^ as *1 1 Ji 1)
ts^ ^
( ) c>«^ ^ To vex the hearts of
friends arises from ignorance ( or foolishness ) ,
tSL ^ ^
ji To die frustrated in one’s wish. ( L,it, ) To
carry one’s wish to the grave.
dt
To nourish a hope, (hit ) To cook a wish or desire.
^8 * 0 ^
Vw I 1, To tuck up one’s sleeve ( /. to prepare
for work) .
< 3 -
I To dance { 0’*^'*^-^ } . ( hit, ) To flourish
one’s sleeves.
< 3 - I \^Add to the E, E. ^ Cock - and - hull story.
<3- §0?
vpAir^^jL^f T. His mill turns very rapidly (i. e. He
swallows his food or eats it greedily j also > he has the
digestion of an ostrich).
< 3 - 2 ^
<U« ^ \ Hotchpot(ch) \ hodge - podge i medley.
( hit, ) A pottage consisting of many ingredients.
o-U^T T, It iB a pottage cooked
hy your aunt i you are under the obligation for the favour
no matter whether you eat it or not. (When some one has
taken the trouble to do us a favour > we should make the
most of it » because the trouble has been taken for our
Sake? and we shall be considered beholden to the favour i
even if we do not benefit by it ) .
Note, -c-JLa- and are colloquial contractions of
w—I W.I respectively.
^ o ^
Jj’^9^0 jJd Ul M.S jir J <)U9T
( Same as <i UiT j i>K^ etc.)
2^8 *
— 465 *—
I O-cT F. T. The very thing of which
I was afraid has befallen me.
E. E, That which one most anticipates , soonest comes
to pass.
2 ^ 2 ^
quite another story now.
E, That shop has been closed. Cf, j\f \j yJ^
Note, 0-*=^^ which literally means to pick or gather
up » means in commercial terminology “ to wind up ”
The sense conveyed by this phrase in the pvh. on hand
approaches the latter meaning.
O* E, ( a ) It is quite another story now.
(b) Gone is the goose that the golden egg did lay.
2”. The cat has run away with the fat. Cf, jJ\ j
the following anecdote from Alasnavi
A poor man was in the habit of greasing his mous¬
tache by the fat skin taken off the tail of a slaughtered
sheep , in order to make believe that he was eating foods
which were rich in fat.
One day when the braggart was talking to some people
who were listening to his boastful story » his little child
came up to him and informed him that the skin had been
carried away by a cat. The secret was thus divulged » and
the audience found out that he was far from being rich ?
and had tried to act as a shabby-genteel.
2 ^ < 3 -
eUwf i P. T. He has not read what is
written on the reverse ( /. e. He only sees one side of
the question ) .
JtA2J I j^XAi I T. He has as
much size under the ground as above the ground. { Said
of a dwarfish > cunning fellow } .
< 3 - 2 ^
? c-^r h <5^.> AJCiT 7'. Who will bell the
cat ? ( From the too well known story of the mice and
the cat} .
25? 'O' 2^
30
- 466 -
juT U^1 j!w 40T etc. (Same as 1j «?> > etc. )
sS8 * sS
^ ^J!}^ C-*fc 4C>T
F. r. He who has'^laid the foundations of the seven climes
( or continents ) > has given every one his deserts.
sfit -o
oAP M E.E. (a) It is quite another story now.
(b) The tables are turned. _
T. That card has been turned upside down. Cf, ol
? ^ 1 ( Same as
etc. )
3^ * SSI
j~ia c ©1
P. T. They were only two > but two in one j
A hundred were we t but all alone.
[Prom the following anecdote'}:-
A caravan consisting of one - hundred men set out from
Kashan to go to another town. On the way they were at -
tacked by two robbers ? who robbed them of all they had.
They reported the incident to the governor of Kashaf^ >
who was at a loss to understand how a hundred men had
not been able to resist two robbers. One of the complain -
ants ? who was wiser than the rest > finally explained that
it was because the robbers were united) while the members
of the caravan had no union* and were thus virtually alone.
Notes. ( 1 ) The anecdote teaches that “ union is
strength. ” . (2) The inhabitants of Kasha^ are proverbial
for their timidity.
^1 ©^JT j) Ka ij 1 T*. What you have
( only ) read ) we have learned by heart { e. We are
too clever to be deceived by you ) .
aSt -o ajt
<v Jji <£*- J ( Add the following )
cf. the E. He that goes softly goes safely.
P. T. The blacksmith’s trade is a simple one i when you
- 467 -
flatten the iron > it Becomes a spade » when you lengthen
it > you have a bar. { Ironical remark addressed to one
who underestimates a trade or craft 1 .
sjs *
C—J ^ ( T, He has lost his mirror ( /. e. He
sees others’ faults > and not his own ) .
\\ r. Motor car No. 11
Shanks’s mare.
Note. The usual phrase is \ \ ^
/. e, to go on Shanks’s mare - one’s legs being likened
to the figure 11.
Death is turning round above
his head .
c. E. The gallows is groaning for him ; also? he is in great
danger of his life.
( tS'**-) wU I U T. Tile fool loves to be
praised.
-i) To] pull a wry face i make mouths
( or faces ) at some one.
J (A.) T. Show mercy and you will have mercy
shown to you,
_ 8 ^ < 5 - 8 ^
y I j\ To prove ( to be ) i make. ( Lit. ) To emerge
from water. Example: ^ vT 31 She proved (to
be ) a good wife i she made a good wife .
E. E. ( a ) To skin ( or flay ) a flint .
(b ) To draw blood out of a stone.
L. To extract butter from water. Cf. j v l 31
To fish in troubled waters.
2^8 < 1 - ^
J fcXU41" O* Cease to talk before
they Say “ It’s enough ” .
- 468 -
{ ^1 ^ jl> a-/ y J-T o' •>' him who
fears you i O vise man.
^ <S' O
Ojulj IsyiT Ji aJuU j' ( Same as l"T jl e/c. )
^ Vf if.
o' ‘T-sf- oi‘ ■>' To take out of one
pocket to put in the other.
^a) J> To skip from one branch to
another (/. to be evasive in one’s reasoning ) .
OJSj ^-r <031 P. T. “ Well done ! ”
furnishes no one with a gay coat. Cf. -r- etc.
E. E. (a) A thousand wishes will never fill your pail with
fishes, (b) Fair words butter no parsnips.
-O'
jyl j j\ J ^down from the house¬
top j and turn out of the house-gate. Cf. !;>' etc.
^ J M fi T. How can you strip a naked
person of h\s fur coat ? Cf. o-p
E. £. (a) ‘ Tis very hard to shave an egg. (b) You can’t
draw blood out of a stone. (c) Where nothing is » no¬
thing can be had.
2^ <3- 2^
walk ( some one ) off his legs. To undo i
overwhelm > break down. Cf.
258-0-2^
b j\ To succumb or collapse ’> give in. To be ruined
or impoverished. To be undone.
2^ O
^I b j\ To undo or overwhelm . To impoverish or
ruin. To knock down . Cf. 1; ji
A jAi j\ T. An unloaded gun frightens
two persons . (These are (1) he who is aimed at ? and
(2) he who aims-the latter because in the end his empty
boasting will be discovered } .
- 469 -
Ji To fly {or fall ) into a ragei lose one s temperi
flare up.
( L;/. ) To get out of one’s place.
JU I _f To give one hot i pay one out well
also O**^ ' } .
? U ^jrO P. T. A young man may
defer hopes of improvement till his old age j till when
does an old man expect to defer them ?
<U»lf T, May you be protected from
the evil eye of him who is affected with atrophy. Said
sarcastically to one who has done an irregular or indecent
act j but conceitedly thinks his act is so brilliantly good
that jealous people will influence him by their evil eyes) .
Note, The phrase is of a jocular nature > inasmuch
as atrophy amounts to having no eyes to begin with.
hold some one responsible for » blame
him for. ^ ^
w.i-t o J jl He is out in his reckoning,
-/v •
UaC jy. T, Transgression on the part of
inferiors » and remission on that of superiors.
Note, A variant form gives
-cv
To split one’s sides. (L//.)To have one’s
intestines cut with laughter.
jy He cannot contain himself for joyi
he seems to tread on air. ( L>^t. ) He will not be contained
in his skin.
^^1^ To gi ve away. To miss. To forfeit. ( P'it. ) To
give away from one’s hands.
To be lost or missed. To be forfeited. To perish.
( Ijit, ) To go away from one’s hands.
-470
JL.lJb eJU^ ^1 T. To get out of bed on the wrong
side ( or to rise on the wrong side of the bed -lit, on
the left rib ) .
o [Add the iollowing']
E. E. It’s a dear collop that is cut out of one’s own flesh.
ji T. To catch fish in a dried up river.
E. E. (a ) To skin a flint. ( b ) To draw blood out of a
stone. 31
2^2 8^2
jl^ To shirk duty > scrimshank i swing the lead
( Eit. ) To run away from work.
j*** To rid oneself of. To play off. To bungle
Or botch.
2^ <J- sC?
^ ^ ( j**> ) T, From ( the head of ) a garlic to
( the bottom of ) an onion ( /. e. everything imaginable).
Cf. the next ent ry,
C—jt F. T, From the white yoghurt
to the black charcoal ( /. e, everything imaginable ) .
3^ O 2^
F^ T, To be deprived of the
second penny on account of one’s bad writing, [From the
\ollowing anecdote }
A certain person used to earn his living by writing
letters for those who were illiterate* and receiving a penny
for each letter. But his writing was so illegible that no
one else could read it * so he had to be given another
penny to read the letter that had been written by him -
self. Now * there happened to be another man who also
received a penny for each letter he wrote* but was de¬
prived of the second penny * because his writing was so
miserable that he could not read it himself.
2^ O 2^
E,E. Who knows what to - morrow holds ?
- 471 -
T. No one has any information about to - morrow.
Cf.
8S8
JT To go back on one’s word.
->1 To be disabled. To crock up. To be decommis¬
sioned i go out of commission i become unserviceable.
jir .>( Disabled. Gone out of commission i unser*
viceable .
To disable. To decommission. To lay up. To
upset » as a government. Gf. 3*
ojjT ji E, E, To lose one’s temper i be exasperated.
T. To fly out of the furnace. Cf, jl
3^ SSS
^^SL> J Vb jr' jl F. r. To Say nothing to a person
beyond calling him a flower (/. S, to be very respectful
toward him ) .
Note. Some people say > ./cijujrji /. e. “ more
delicate than a rose-leaf ” .
SC2 3^
2^ <r c.-t U j\ {Add the following )
E. E. The axe goes to the wood where it borrowed its
helve .
^ P. 'E, St raitened circumstances make
one despair of his ^ . e.
Notes. (1) properly means “behind or “badly
off ” . (2) literally means “sinner ” or “ sinful ” .
(3) ^U-31 may also mean “quarrelling with oneself”.
U oIa jl T. From the moon to the fish { i. e. all over
the world ) .
2 ^ < 5 ^
jl E. E. (1) He is wrong in the upper storey,
(b) His cockloft is unfurnished.
- 472 -
P. T. He is .innocent of hrain.
ji To be all abroad » to be off the track.
( ^S•^ } S :;\ J JuT 4^
T. What power can an empty stomach have ? And what
charity can proceed from empty hands? ( /. e. No one can
be charitable who is himself hungry or empty-handed) .
JCS * 2^5
(o^ h ) To digress i deviate from the
main subject, ^^
Nofe, For 0^>; j' which indicates a state >
we had better say ? “ He is wide of the subject ” » or
“ he is off the track. ”
^ ^ P> T. Xo address Otnat as one’s
uncle in an emergency. 3' etc.
T. To kiss the ass’s tail in an
emergency. Cf, the preceding entry,
t3L
cu-l yb;,1 E, E, Every man to his trade.
T. Every man is ecjual to a certain task.
iaSU ji To impoverish or ruin i bleed white.
( i^it. ) To bereave of one’s possession.
:;\ To become unconscious.
2^ -C3-
( t5-A— '] <J
t . The Arabian horse j though slim > is worth more than
a stable of asses ,
P. P. Precious goods are contained in small parcels.
sOs o $
•t***'^ an easy - paced
horse may sometimes stumble.
C 4J •jSj wU I w««*1
— 47 3 —
A slender ** waisted horse proves useful on the day of
Lattle > not the fattened ox. C/. w-*I €tC.
jinti 3 uAwl T. The horse and the mule don’t
kick each other. Cf.
E, E, The re is honour among thieves.
o C-?/ J C.«) f ( Add }
E. E. The best horse needs breaking j and the aptest child
needs training.
C-l uKz-T ^^1 E,E, ( a ) He is lachyrymose. { b ) His
tear-bag is precious near his eyes.
E, His tears are in his sleeve, the next entfy,
E. E. His tear - bag is precious near
his eyes .
T. His tears are in his leathern bottle ( /. e. eye ) .
Elote. A variant form gives ( fist ) for
( leathern bottle or water-skin ) .
c-.( ^-T jUt, ^LT ^1 T, The tears of roasted meat
( dripping) excite the fire all the more. {This means
that the more one implores > and shows his inability ? to
a hard-hearted person » the more the latter is bent on
continuing his cruel acts } .
c.-,r ^ jij E. E, The outward appea¬
rance is the essential thing » the signs of baldness are
hidden underneath the hair. { Cited when some one con -
ceals his essential faults or real poverty by a good ap -
pearance } ,
Note. A variant form of this pvb. is
jlJ aiU jj jj\
which j I believe » is more frequently used by the
Iranian Jews .
T. To give one’s bridle into
- 474 -
another person’s hand ( t. e. to allow a person to lead you
hy the nose ) .
<sJ wT ^jljo y I { Same as
o* iS\^. vT )
,.. j j(a& ij \s^s^ y**
a gla09 of water to drink ) leave it and ... { s. e. Come
at full speed ) .
I^ote. A variant form is (^jli w—^ ji •-^T /. e. If
you have water in your hand * do not drink it,
^ o ^
ol_a= t c-1 eU-J Ljjlj <r ^ jJP\
T. If you see a blind man with a well before him 7 it
would be a sin if you sat quiet.
Note. This is adapted from a verse hy Sa'^dij which
reads as follows :
C-asit ^
<t ^ Cr
Sj o^XiA<loiib F. T. Though I am
put to shame by all y I have the satisfaction that the
real thief knows I am innocent. ( Said by one who is
accused of theft 5 but is guiltless } .
^ under A
etc, )
wXi> ^you are a bucket j I am the
rope for it { i, e. I am too clever to be deceived^ or too
strong to be defeated » by you ) . the E. idioms ‘ to
outrogue a rogue ’ or ‘ to out-Herod Herod’ .
tju^ jiib(^?6) ir •-*?*=?? y 2-* y** ^ under
^ etc, )
* 3^
j\j^) ij h^Jj H you are a surgeon?
put your own bowels in place. Cf. ^3 Jt: yi etc.
F. E. Physician ? heal thyself.
^ o ^
- 475 -
(cs-*-) c-^:»! :;i <i T. It is better to eat
colocynth from the hand of the good > natured ) than
sweetmeat from the hand of the sour-tempered.
cf <_r Jr'\
T. If you want me to gratify your wish > adopt my hus¬
band as your brother.
E. He who would the daughter win » must with
the mother first begin.
{J- Sjg
( } ^jmS" ^'-^*** C-cM-a O
T-. If you reprove yourself » you will not have to hear
reproach from any one.
mountain of Badakhsh 2 kyi is changed to ruby » the jewel
is not worth the sight of the natives. Cf, ^ ^
Note. B(t'Ja ^hsh^n is a place between KhorgiSSsiH and
India > noted for ils rubies.
ts> ^
c—I jj T. If speech is silver) silence
is gold.
E. E. Silence is gold.
Not e. The say ing jby^jSi^ C.-I j:; .
which is given under and which means “ If speech is
gold » silence is jewels ” > is much to be preferred to the
one given here .
Ij jA T"! E. T. I defy you to break
the head of the pestle. {From theiolloumg anecdote'):
Nlollgi~NasSfeddtn^s head » which was said to have
been bald ^ was wounded one day during a hail storm by
some very large hailstones. When he went home ) he
saw in the kitchen a mortar in which there was a pestle.
He took the pestle » and i directing its thick end to the
sky 7 he said y “ O Lord of Heavens> I defy thee to^break
the head of this pestle j if thou canst. ”
- 476 -
Notes. { 1 ) The saying? though rather hlasphemoust
teaches that it is not fair or gentlemanlike for a person
to oppress one who is far below him in strength. ^ .
^ j \ J* \ etc, (2) The phrase ^ 1 literally means
“ If thou art a man ” .
{Add the following)
E. E. (a) He that commits a fault thinks every one speaks
of it. (b) A guilty conscience feels eontinual fear .
jkiLi ^®y there be no table
with only one loaf of bread on it ! ( f. May there be
no man with only one child ) .
-O-
^UJI (A. ) See undef etc,
2 ^
? \jh>‘ ^JT <:^-r <cJb E. T, You have been
applying the ladle all night ? where is then the dish ?
{ Said to one who has struggled in vain through greed or
other motives } . Cf, 1 etc,
2 ^ ^ 2 ^
JT 13 ^To dash one’s hopes.
y tlJLit T. I trust it is a goat. Notes appended
to the follcwing anecdote } * -
One early morning a certain sheikh was going to the
mosque to say his matins. On the way he was splashed
by the water shaken off the body of a dog which had
fallen into a stream. This ? according to Moslem rites >
disqualified the sheikh for prayer ? for his clothes were
now ceremonially unclean.
But the sheikh ? feeling there was not much time
left for him to go and change his clothes ? ignored the
pollution caused by the dog > and muttered ? “I trust
it was a goat. ”
Notes, (I) A variant form replaces “goat” by “cat”.
( 2 )The dog is uiSually considered unclean by the Moham¬
medans. The cat ? however » is not so ? much less the goat .
- 477 -
(3 ) r*i e quotation is used when a person ignores an ob
vious fact» and tries j so to speak j to deceive himself.
^
^ There is no comparison between the two »
this is not (to be ) a patch on that one.
^ ^jlSil F. T. We will consjtler
as if the ass had no tail from the time it was a foal. (See
f'.> J'J' and the story appended to it } .
show astonishment » to
express amazement. ( FU, ) To put the finger of astonish¬
ment on one’s mouth.
_< 0 i} E. E, To be( come ) a by - worrl ( for
one’s notorious acts ) .
F, T. To become so notorious that every one points to one
by his finger.
^ ^
jJ^ ^jL) He got angry or sad » he was upset. {Eit.) His
times (/. humour) became bitter.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
F. E . He comes in the stitching trade ( L €. he
is not a layman with regard to the trade ) . t Fiotfi the
followhig anecdote^:-
A king had once ordered all the tailors of the town
to be summoned to the court j and a certain pack-saddle*
maker also had managed to join them. When he was asked
why he had mixed himself with the tailors > he answered
that he » too > was a member of the trade* because he and
all the tailors stitched. Cf, i 1 j etc, and
the E. E. given ior same.
FJotes, (1) According to the anecdote > the expression
Ja| implies that such a person knows sornething
about the matter > but it usually means that he is conver¬
sant ( Of acquainted ) with it. (2) The expression V*.
is rather of a jocular nature * and there has been a ten¬
dency to use it with an indecent implication.
- 478 -
J <^j
T, O thou who goest empty-handed to the market > I am
afraid thou wilt not bring back a full handkerchief ( Of
turban). (More neatly) He who is empty-handed cannot
be expected to come back from the market with a full
handkerchief .
Note, Some texts replace by in which
case the last part would mean j “ I fear thou wilt not
bring back your turban ( or handkerchief ) ” .
-a- 2^
C } Jl-t^ Jl_^ aa j jiajJ‘
T. O thou who art encumhered with a family i do not
think any more of tranquillity ( or freedom ) . ( More
freely ) Encumbered with a family j entangled by care
and worry.
^ ^
V Here they brand camels by
means of felt ( /. e, the people of this locality are ex¬
tremely clever ) ,
^>1 J I T. Here’s the well > and here the rope
( /. now you have the opportunity to prove what you
claim ) . Cf . oI**r* J 0^*^ etc,
f ( 1 ) This is an endless task. ( 2 ) The
best part is yet to come.
P. T. The longer part of the thread (or rope) is yet to come.
\j j2m F, r. Lead this camel to
another man’s door > and make him kneel there {/'. e, I am
not the man for it > I am not equal to the task ) . ( From
the followtng anecdote'] -
A man once found a camel loaded with much gold and
silver. He led the camel to his house » and took off the load*
which he hid in a safe place. As he was unable to keep
the animal > he took it out by night and intended to cause
it to kneel at some one’s door. But as soon as he chose a
house at random? and was about to carry out his plani the
owner of the house appeared j and said > “ I beg your
- 479 -
pardon j 6ir> will you please cause your camel to kneel at
another man’s door ? ”
§ jir JwXaJL>1 T. After grazing so much ? where
is your fat (tail) ? (Said to one who has toiled hard » but
has not earned much) . See in the Addend a.
* xS?
<0 eiA> t E. E. Better pay the butcher
than the doctor.
T-. Give to the sick person what you will give to the
doctor.
^ ^ ^ F, T, Ib this really myself -
wearing such nice clothes ? ( Said in cases when an upstart
prides himself on his new clothes ) .
t^ote, and are childish words i the former
means ‘dress’ or ‘clothes’? and the latter ‘fine’ or ‘nice’.
O 355
F. T. Here’s the peach and here the throat
(/. This is a very easy task ) ,
izJ£> ^ This 1 too > is a proof of old age.
( From the following anecdote ) : -
An old man was telling out his Various diseases
to a physician > who remarked in each case that the
disease was due to old age. Finally ? the man got
angry and made mouths at the physician ? whereupon
the latter calmly said ? “ This > too ? is to be accounted
for by old age. ”
I ^9 Ito ^>1 1) ( See 1*7 ^ etc.)
^ o ^
cS^?^? Bring some one’s (dead)
father in his sight ( /. e. to give one hot and make him
sorry for his act ) .
J jrjr b (J) J.b JI> u
7^. Be good with the good 5 and bad with the bad ? a rose
among roses? and a thorn among thorns, Cf. the next entry.
{ ) O <U^ ^jr J jSii ^^5 ^,jOI jo i,
T. Do good even with the malevolent? the dog’s mouth
should better be closed with a morsel. Cf. the preceding
entry.
^
{ j^\ ^jp\j b T. Tie up the knee of your
camel with trust (in God ) . {This emphasizes the neces¬
sity of resignation and trust in God even in doing easy
things) .
Notes. ( 1 ) The first hemistich to this is
jljl <-» e. Said the Prophet in a loud voice .
( 2 ) * To tie up the camel’s knee ’ means to tie the ani¬
mal s foreleg to its thigh ? which is done to prevent it
from rising and straying.
^ O ^
^ ^ ^ To go to a person ? sword and
shroud in hand (/. e. to surrender oneself entirely to a
person ? to lie at his mercy ) .
^
T. To pay a tax to the jackal ( i, e. to pay
^ 481 -
tribute -td' > Or' cringe before ? a‘mean person ) .
■ The phrase is usually quoted with a negative
verb > thus : Here they don’t pay
taxes to a jackal. " ' •
Jtt- d'j Blackmail i extortion. ( ) A tribute paid to
* * , * -
one merely because of his large moustache.
^ ^ _ . .
There is nothing to choose between
them > none is inferior to the other. ( ) They don’t
pay tribute to each other.
JT l> To raze to the ground. ( Lit. ) To make
level with the ground.
SS <3-
jrwi 1) jrj-i b F. T. If you are not
filled by eating ) you will not be filled by licking. { Said
to children who lick their dishes 1 .
^ o ^
He was too lazy to resume wpek^ after the
interruption. ( Lit, ) Wind blew on his back. ,
• '.r a|
Note, A Variant form of this expression is vr^.
aC* p
( 1 ) His enthusiasm cooled down i he was
disillusioned. ( 2 ),He began to feel the after-effects.
, ( 3 )• He .drew in his horns. ( Lit, ) His sore was cooled
down by the wind (^ot he began to feel the pain after
the heat had been cooled do,wn ) .
i.
E. E. (a) To carry water in. a sieve, (b) To plough
the sea - shore. : . ii.-.. , • ^ ■ „ j.'
i. To measure .the wind. V : / .** ’ ^ .
E. E, ( a ) To swell like a turkey-cock.
(b) To* give oneself airs. *
7. To blow into one’s nose. '
31
482 -
( CohJU k ) To have wind in one’* hand
( /. to fail to obtain a good result from one’s act). Cf.
the £. To sow the wind and reap the whirlwind ”» the
second part of which suits the P. phrase.
29R o- O
{Same as or jU
substituting ( hat ) for cfti-T Of
Oi-C: ^ JU'A Lj ( Colloquial ) He cracks walnuts
with his tail (/. €, He cannot contain hiniself for joy ) .
^ To grease one’s moustache with the
fat tail of a sheep. Refer to und the
anecdote appended thereto in the Addenda'] ,
o wjT ju C ^he following E. E. ) ,*
(e) A bad thing never dies.
o ^
<r
^ 4)V T, There is no dif - .
fercnce of opinion in the genial nature of the rain V (but)
in a garden grow tulips » and in brackish ground weeds.
E, £. Figs do not grow on thistles.
cS^® £. T. Saying ? “ Well done ”
to some one does not give a gay colour to his coat.
Note, Lj is an obsolete long garment for men » open
in front. (Sf, 1-a—^
iS^ * 8^
U ( Jk-A./ U c—1 b
^^(iAC;j^b T. Before a geomancer he is a poet > before
a poet he is a geomancer i before both of these he is
neither > while before none of these he 'is both. { Said of
an impostor ) . Cf. etc.
^yb ^ ^ 5 jb (See under etc.)
si 8>
To amuse deceitfully.
* <8
- 483 -
> {^Colloquial } To monkey. To grimace.
To dodge. To back out.
J1 U ( Same as J1>*; 1; substituting
^*‘dog^^ for ijr^) .
sS * S>
^JUS' ^ b T . To dig a well with a needle ( i, e, to
try to do the impossible ) . ^f, ^ke E. To plough the
sea - shore.
^ can’t fight with a
wooden sword.
^ o ^
4^-^ fj^ (Same as. cJ ^j \ etc, y q, p,
in the Addenda ) .
2^8 *
* JT c^J C following ) ;
E. E, Harvest ears > thick of hearing.
P. T. So far as possible*
1 won’t choose a friend *
Or else to friendship
I’ll ne’er put an end.
Cf, the E. Once a friend * always a friend.
l^ote. The P. has a pun on the verb which
means first “ I do not become ” * and then “ I will not
turn away ” . The E. word “ turn ” also sometimes means
become ” .
2^ *» O
oVlTj b E. E. By hook or by crook.
T, By shoe or by hat.
Note, The expression is often used by a dicer who
is determined on hitting an exposed piece » and wishes to
say that he will hit it by all means.
2^ * SS
^ Ljb oy l» O!*^ U?" Ub Vl» VI; ( Same as
U OCL etc. )
-4B4-
U J ' To measure, some one with one’s
eye. { . ) To look one up and down.
To speak for? cr in defence of» some one i
hack or support some one.
3^ -CJ 2^
tiihug f hehave like a humbug.
2^ -0- 3^8
Cuitf ^ ^found no roof that
is lower than ours (/. He has not found a weaker person
than me ) . { See J *\‘^S 1... ^>1^..^ j\ under
a-iU j
Ij T. Eat it with your own salt ( of
Savour ) . Said in jest to one who says what he is eating
is insipid or saltless } .
l^ote. ( salt ) means also figuratively “ charm *’
or “ attractiveness ” .
CUmi Every wine has its hang-over.
E, ( a ) There is no rose without a thorn, (b) Sorrow
treads upon the heels of mirth.
^ *^***^-^ I w— ^ 1) E, L , When fortune comes
to meet one ? it comes from all doois ( i/7, from right
and left ) .
Cf, the E. It never rains but it pours.
25s <3- 2^
^ ^ C ^dd at the end } •
Also > he that is won with a nut > may be lost with an
apple.
O 25s
^*5^ ( J ) To do or perform. ( 2 ) To comply with i
grant. (3) To recognize and give due respect to. For ex -
ample > the E. phrase “ You have the advantage of me ’-
would be rendeied in P. as follows ; 1 j L^-
1.) U-— •Jj.i
-485-
K} [ Colloquial To pocket or appropria.te
eUitf To ruin y drive to extremities. ( Lit, ) To
cause to sit on the black earth.
Note. The above phrase » with its verb changed to
, could be used intransitively. Thus j o
would mean “ To be" ruined i go to the
^ L-ai
2^ O
To pass off i displays show. Cf, the next entry.
Vj^\ To pass off as good. To be listened to » or ho¬
noured. For example 7 Cj^ **‘H would mean “He
was impervious to my advice ” .
Note. The original meaning of this idiom is “to be
spent ” ( = ) •
{ } ^JOJU ^' T. I pardon you »
though I do not deem it advisable. {Said in jest in re ply
to one who says > “ Pardon me The reply also shows
that liie person who pardons does so reluctantly } ,
14) 4*^} E. E. To carry water in a sieve.
T. To stitch diluted yoghurt.
j:) jJf' F. T. The full
moon has its wane i just as gold has an alloy ) and roses
have their thorns .
E. E. ( a ) No joy without alloy. ( b ) There is no rose
without a thorn.
2^? O 3l5t
To be useful or serviceable. (Lit.) To be suit¬
able for a pain cr ailment. Exnniple .* It
doesn’t serve our purpose.
To go to hell { used in. the sense of “to
die disgracefully” } .
{t?***-*} j} waMi#
E. T, The sea contains great riches > (but) if you look for
- 486 --
safety.) this is found on the shore.
■- '< ‘=-’* J>
( *»AJ a> jTI F. T. We ourselves are
to account for our good fortune i we can have it if we
do^ not seek evil. J* JT etc, in the Addenda.
E. E, ( a ) Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves,
(b) Every man is the architect of his own fortune .
Note. originally means having been born
under a lucky star ” .
%A> To have a rough time i be ill at ease.
\ ^ ae? * 3S8
I had a feeling (or presentiment) i it occurred
to me. (Eit. ) A draft was made on my heart.
ol£l ieve what another thinks * and
base oneself on his opinion cr judgment. ( Lit. ) To look
at some one’s mouth.
( 1 J ^jA JU ^^ ©JUii Cjt
T. Cupidity sews up the eyes of the intelligent > and
greed, brings birds and fishes to the snare.
O'*'"
T- . It it no fault to go to see people ) but rot so often
that they say “ Enough. ”
i*> LiW the gap ) in order to
ensure that something has been done in the meantime.
(Lit.) In order to leave no blank space in the letter.
‘ ss *
4 , 5 ^^ ^ won’t make a skirt for E^teniah
(/. It is of no material benefit). See cy-^ etc.
Note, 15 a familiar contraction of 0*U
^ ^ ^ j* (Same as
o* vT etc. )
- 487 -
o I ! j Ci) y (Amend the appen •
ded note on the basis of the one given on page 320 } .
8«8
j To dissipate i make away with. ( ) To give
to the wind. Cf. the next entry,
8^ •& ssi
To be entirely ruined or dissipated.
(Lit,) To go to the wind of destruction.
j\A Sore as a boil > in a very bad temper.
(Lit,) A tower of snake - poison.
j> To go to kingdome come i /. to die.
( Lit, ) To join God’s mercy.
A i^Used as follows') •.
(wL-L-a-l) <j ^ ji^y remarks hurt his feelings*
Or trod on his corns. See the slang phrase jl
in the Addenda,
Note. means “ to come across something”.
joT ^Vjl ^ j> (Same as -hT <*•✓* etc, )
<t t3i
C } uSi-.^ ^
L.T. Preaching will not affect the hard-hearted* an iron
nail will not penetrate stone.
Note. A variant form of this verse changes the first
hemistich to read Jii ^
a«t O' 2^
ouJ jjf There is no doubt about that. Forsooth !
(Lit.) Curse on him who denies it.
Note, The phrase is often cited ironically.
2SE O' 8^
( } 4>L^T c-< JUJb tv Uxt 4r 4i ^»t^ JJ.
F, T. Try this snare on another bird * for the phcEnix s
nest is too high to allow its being caught in a trap. (This
often amounts to saying * **' I’ll not be deceived by you *
-- 48 '^ ^
1 A ^ i a
U
try .your:trick on\some one. else V )^*L' : ’
' ' T sS * 0 -
» ,_ . V, vs .* V. ■ - » V • 'DT 'TT* -: ■. i V ,£ . J ■ , . > ..“ . .
£. £. A merry beggar. ( From the E. idiom
“as merry as a beggar^^^). ( ) .Naked and merry/'
. -O'
J j> ( Same:as ^ j )
" ''■ - ■■ ' •■ ■■ , i: • ■ .
* *j i^UaS J C^f \j ^ {Add the following ) :
Cf. the E, One thing thinkelh the bear > but another
thinketh his leader.
» • v.,
■ -■■■ : . 7 :.. '
j! Every herring must hang by
its.own gills, . r . - *. ...
t- . A goat is hung by its own legs. ■ -
s^s it ■• • ^ ■
^ ^ji \/^dd the iallowing\.
Live > horse ! and thou Shalt have srass " ' ' ■"
= ■ ’ sS8.‘<> •^- ■- -
\jal^ E: H. (The remarks) have trodden on his corns.
T, They have hit against the sweetheart’s tresses.
' ' ^ ' ■ U O' ■ • ■ ?,7 t 1 ^ ^ I* - *
E. E, To dance to some one’s tune or pipe
{i^t, miisic) i dance as some one pines. ■
85? {J- iSt
(The remarks ) have trodden on
his. corns.
' '■ * 1 . *
T They have touched the hem of his robe.
r jh . .
-
• ■ Sjh <J- ^
tr fcAJl) jAm \^Add the foIJou ing } :
E. £.-..4 a ) He that travels fat knows much. ( b ) Travel
makes a wise man better » but a fool worse.
To act desperately. (Eit,) To play on (of touch)
the last ..string.
h
■■ ■'■' 8^ SS? ' , -
jjl-j J j,lL} I doubt it very much. ^ Lit, ) Hear but
don’t believe it. Cf, : - . -m
- 489 -
{Add the following^ :
E. More flies are taken with a drop of honey than »
tun of vinegar.
^ <y ^
( ) OmJ jA ^' 'E. Confession and
repentance can save us from divine punishment » but not
from the tongues of men. Cf. ij *31 etc.
E. E. A jar’s mouth can be stopped » a man’s cannot.
* J-4?- e^-5-
following } ;
E. To do the devil’s work for nothing.
To come to one’s rescue. To redress one’s
grievance. ( Eit. ) To con e when one cries or shouts.
I JXi E. E, It is only a scrap of paper,
i The literal meaning of this phrase is rather obscure } ,
j> F. T, One can accomplish,
anything by action > not by mastery of words.
_ -d-
^ ^ ^K> To be of use 1 be serviceable. -
U jlC It
is of no use to us i it doesn’t serve our
purpose.
AS' c*-»t «.^C} F. T. He will exploit even a
flea > which dances free of charge {tit. which is GodV
dancer ) .
E. E. He is a skinflint.
Mote. {kak) is colloquial for {keyk) , which
means “ flea ” .
< d,
1^1 F. T. Those who relate it are respon¬
sible for it {i. e, I am not to blame if such a rumour or
490 -
news proves to be untrue ) .
{iS-*— } ^Lj a_> jL-} od>» >W{
T*. O nightingale » bring the glad tidings of the spring 9
and let the owl bring the bad news . [ Counsel against
spreading ill news or bringing sad tidings } .
sjg <1* aS
4,^Lck^l9 otj« A chatty person ( who considers himself the
life and soul of a party because of his loquacity ) .
( . ) The nightingale of Sha^h •Tahwe^sb - a king of the
Safav’i Dynasty.
( Slajjg ) To devour or eat greedily. ( Ftgurac¬
tively) To appropriate or pocket (some one’s money ) .
Note, 1 { ball a'*to ) is an Arabic verb meaning
“ I (have ) swallowed. ”
3^8 <Jb 4Jb { Adii the following }
F, E. As the bird ig» such is the nest. Cf. also Like host*
like guest.
1S8 o O
T. One can’t say? “ Shoo ! ” to their
birds ( /. e. They are very proud and quarrelsome ) .
1 ^; om I v^ould not have it at a gift.
Note, c-i* means gratuitous(ly) .
>58 * <8
■wO ojw He was scared to death » also > he was badly
shocked. (Lit.) His heart’s string was torn.
O-t oMJ jS>^ J JMpc) Ji>M He is extremely chaste 9 he
is Joseph) she is a vesta. ( Fit, ) His drawers’ string has
not been loosened for either a lawful or unlawful purpose.
cJii F. T, It it God who knows well his ser¬
vants ( /. e, Man cannot judge the true nature of man 9
also 9 human is susceptible of committing any crime ) .
>58 O 3S8
- 491 -
* jJJ 4r ^5 L-ucI ^^7 ^
{Add the iollowing } ;
£. Homan blood is all of a colour.
{iS^} c-^u>T ->*
7^. Better the smell of onions from the mouth of a beaoty
than a flower from the hand of an ugly person.
I cA>^ To come round i come to one's senses j
recover.
^ ( Slang ) Don’t bother about that. Also j
I don’t care a fig. Nevermind. {Lit.) Don’t think about it.
^ O ^
i> jS jS'j ^j) ^
T. Without gold ( or money ) you cannot exert force on
any one i but if you have money > you have no need of
force. ( More neatly ) Without money force is nothing i
with money force is unnecessary.
(%^ I n the twinkling of an eye i before one
can say Jack Robinson ” .
*2>-f 4) O A*) T. He who is love-sick
needs no physician.
^^ ( Same as \j etc, )
L-^^ b ( Compound u'ord } Firm. Confirmed. Established.
( 1^11. ) With its feet in place.
^JjTb [Compound u'ovd\ Broken down* decrepiti worn
out. ( Lit, ) Whose cauldron is out of place.
Note, It is interesting to note that J-'b ig a slang
term meaning “ dead drunk
oJL.a1Lu» *C^b ( Compound word } 1 ) An old rogue.
2) A snatcher or pilferer! one who steals and ruhs away!
a light-fingered person. (Lit,) One who rolls up his trousers
( and takes to his heels ) .
^ To be cheated. ( Lit. ) To be kicked. Cf,
b To happen. (For example **^*‘t*" 1; r-^t tS\^, means
“ One does not always happen to be as lucky ” } .
[Compound uord) Quite in the air. Unconfirmed,
In suspense » at a loose end. ( Lit. ) With its feet in the
air. cf, \j*‘ JO t
(77?^ opposite of k } To cheat {with
Ex am pie : jj ^ He cheated me .
2^ * aCs
oJLjjL- 4iib [Compound word'] Cunning or roguish! loguishly
cunning. ( Lit, ) With worn out heels.
To put one’s foot out of the line
j *
\ to disobey or rebel ) .
sS? ■»
- 493 -
His foot is on a melon
skin (/. e. He is unstable in his position » he may slip at
any moment). Cf, ^SJJ eU. in the texty
and cIj*aia c—j; in the Add end a.
To mix the dough at the very spot where
the meal-tub is. ( Showing how lazy people work } .
^ To serve one out i make an example of
him i give it to him hot i punish him severely. (Lit,) To
bring his father out ( of the grave ) .
hJote. A stronger and more abusive variant of (his
expression is o-*-= »3>- I^r jj, / e. to burn son.e one’s
( dead ) father.
0 ^: 0 ) or y. To confess one’s weakness > > ield > also >
to lose influence. (Z,//.) To shed off the feathers j moult.
^ {^Colloquial } Scattered or thiown about.
{As a sub st anti ve'y Irrelevant talk* nonsense.
^ <r
J jd T, Who eats too much and tuns a little
{ originally referring to a horse } .
Who quakes at work and sweats at meals.
C/. also Small rain lays great dust.
^{Colloquial or slang'} To hang about. To prowl.
T. Not a bird flew there.
E, E, The re was not a soul there .
o SS o
{Colloquial compound word} Firm j confirmed.
( Eit. ) With firm legs.
£^.5"-*'^-'*} 4^ I ^ ^ ben you are
gone j what matters if the world is mourning or feasting
E. E. ( Same as for ^_r^ etc.)
- 494 -
U c-ti To trip ( up ) . C Figuratively ) To recalcitrate.
(With ^ } To rccalfcitrate against of at.
^JUi Cal) T, It is backed {or supported) by the ace.
( Taken from the game of poker and the like > and inten¬
ded to mean » figuratively > “ He is nicely supported ” ).
k) sorry » regret very much;
repent. ( Li^, ) To bite the back of one’s hand.
C«l) ( Slang ) Do your damnedest ( or worst ) .
( Lit. ) Serve me on the back of the plate .
O 32s
c—He is too laay to resume work after the
interruption. {Lit,) His back has been cooled by the wind.
sjs -O' sjs
Cal) To neglect or disregard; pass by. {Lit.) To
throw behind one’s ear. See below.
O -O' O
^ ( Compound word } Nonchalant ; neglectful.
( Lit. ) Having much room on the back of one’s ear.
Cf. *1-^, above.
3S6 -t> 32s
cl) To prevaricate i quack i play the quack
( or charlatan ) .
Note. The expression seems to mean originally “ to
pack (cards) ” 9 inasmuch as the literal meaning of it is
“ to place one after the other ” .
S2s <3 82*
^:11jk) oM—f" f^l) To be a figurehead i be inefficient.
( Lit. ) To have no wool in one’s hat.
Note. The usual phrase is (1 i. he is
inefficient.
32* O ^
J To shed off the wool ( *. ^. cease to be influen¬
tial ; grow weak;, also? lose one’s credit ) . Cf. j\
in the Addend a.
32 * * 3 ^
495 -
(5/^;;^^ Nevermind) take it easy) alro ) let it
go hang. ( Lit, ) Consider it as wool.
avail to regret ( for
what one has done). Cf, tS^K'aiC'jiU 1^ etc. and ^Ijr^ etc.
kS^^. ,JJ Place where people are put to the test.
( Lit, ) Xhe bridge where asses are requisitioned.
{ Colloquial } To wear out ( Of overstay ) one’s
welcome .
( qJ^ k ) Vi To take out the cotton
in one’s ear ( /. e, to listen to some one’s advice » also»
prepare to listen to people^s grievances
( Colloquial) To scratch or claw.
To have a hard time of it i have a job to do
it. ( Lit. ) To cast off its skin.
o-
O'-**—^To fleece some one. To punish some one
severely. ( Lit, ) To flay a person i strip off his skin.
Note. A variant form of this idiom is
QimiSs^ tSH jt^ To set a trap in some one’s
way ) put him in a risky or slippery situation. ( Lit, ) To
put a water-melon skin under some one’s feet- Cf,
c—I (a:*) •3^>. /*// the Addenda,
aSt * sSt
1 * ^ Jji E. E. Money' doesn’t grow on trees.
T. Money is not bear’s grass.
Note, In view of the obscure meaning of bear’s
■ grass *’ ) I believe is a corruption of » which
would make the phrase mean Money is no weed or
useless grass ” .
- 496 ”
3 ) ^ wiLC) Those that hi^ve
insrhles may playj hut those that have none must look on.
< b ) The rich feast » the poor fast» the dogs dine j the
pOor pine .
P, T. Those that have money may eat lOast meat » and
those that have none must confine themselves with the
^mell.
juCj« money burns in his
pocket.
P. His money weighs down in his pocket.
2 ^ { 3 - ^
devil's back is spent under his belly.
F. T. The catamite’s wage is spent for the treatment of
his piles,
<} J C iollowing ) ;
C^. the E. expression “ to angle with a silver hook
t word } Cardboard cavalier ? man of
straw.
^ .5^1 To shuni 01 withdraw from » society. To side¬
step. ( hit, ) To empty one’s flank.
^ following ) ;
Also ) to do a mean job. Also ? to have no ( regular )
employment.
or jUiT (Old) dotard. { Lit. ) Old hyena.
wlzd I T, Their shirts are dried in
the same sunshine. ( The only relationship they have is
that their shirts are dried .... — a jocular way of spying
that they have no relationship at all} .
- 497 -
*5* J or c-ot r iiJlc j\ tCjti f Add
the following } ;
Cf. the H. 01'1 age is sickness enough of itself.
☆ -o
{Slang) To give it (to) some one hot.
To rebuke some one severely » bring disgrace on him.
^ote. , 3 -ci literally means ^‘alphosis or leprosy ” .
s^g o 20^
O*^"^ To come up i happen. To develop,
T. You are getting the start in
order that you may not get behind. ( For instance » you
say this to one who > as soon as he feels that you are not
pleased with him? pretends to be discontented himself).
Note. There are other variants to the above phrase?
such as i.r; or etc.
throw up the sponge. ( L,tt. ) To
throw one’s loin-cloth ( or apron ) before some one.
^ iji To lose the track 1 get off the track.
Note. y, is a phrase meaning “ to cause
the cat-and proverbially anyone - to lose the track > put
some one on the wrong track.
They won’t even allow
him to carry her coffin on his shoulders ( i. e. The girls’
parents will never allow such a man to approach her as
a suitor ) .
^ Till the small hours i till cockcrow. ( Lit.) Till
the time when dogs begin to bark.
32
- 498 “
Note. iTiust be a popular corruption of
fUfl- > which is an obsolete horn blown at dawn to
call people to bath. Combined with (dog) j the word
should in this ca?e be taken to mean “ the barking
of dogs ” .
^ Even his eyeball turned red. ( Said
of a person who is put to the blush > or gets very angry).
y Ui F. T, That is your condign
punishment for the untimely belching, Warning to a
person that he should not repeat an indecent act) .
Note, I is a contraction of ( eructation ) .
Construed with it means “ to belch ” .
So long as razors are manufactured
in Isfabafi, men are young » and while rouge is imported
from Europe > women are pretty.
^ p,
O-^-* l> T. While the lights
are on » reptiles creep out of their holes (/. e. While there
is junketing} and victuals are served) parasites hang about).
C-.I jJi ji .illi ir F. r. As long as
the firmaments continue to turn round > we will have the
same fate every night ( /. e, U is the same old story in
the same old way or History repeats itself ) .
2SS * $
vS" b" As far as the eye can reach ( 1//. work ) .
aS? * 2^
J^SLa Up- y For ever and ever. (Lit ) As long as God
continues to be God .
0-. 0 JvT <> vllls \J F. T. It remains to be
seen what Time will bring forth from behind the curtain.
L. E, T.he future is on the knees of the gods.
- 499 -
JJjj ^ T, Until you sow it 7 the seed will
not grow. U/. *zJ'j>. y 31 etc,
^ For ever and ever. (Lit,) As long as the world
continues to exist. Cf. U
^ { Acid the following } .*
cf, the E. New things are fair.
{^Compound wofd ^ A parvenu or upstart.
( Lit. ) (One) who has recently come upon fortune.
(liiU) ^j
jl>^ C^jtXm U* T. While your cup is
full ) drink and let others drink.
aiU> 4J" ojj;) AJS^ <tf" JL. IT F. T. Who knows who
will live 5 and who will drink > next year. ( Said to one
who proposes to defer things to another year } .
2C2 * 2 C«
(TjbKL U As long as my jugular vein has a motion.
{ So long as I live ( > I shall not allow such a thing to
be done ) ) .
C.A> IT r. The cock will not
tread the hen j until the latter yields to it. {It is usu¬
ally the female sex who is to blame for an unchaste act} .
ji3 j^bSj l_r
(Same as j <iUU ^ etc. )
( Trying ) to obtain what is already obtained :
a vain effort. the E. To seek water in the sea.
42;:^ To wind up ( one’s speech ) j shut up. To stop
( boasting ) . To put an end to (one’s business ) .
t^ote. The original sense of this verb is to close a
shop with planks (^^') serving as a door.
To retrograde. To grow worse.
jryj yj { Colloquial compound word } Sprightly or
jolly i also I Spick and span.
-sOd-
To stop if. To cease. To shut up. ( Lit. )
To put on? or apply? the brake.
Note, yj> is originally a Russian ■word.
J ( Colloquial } Quickly j promptly i without loss
of time.
J J The good with the bad. ( Lit, ) Wet and dry.
jT J To take care of i look after? nurse. {Origi¬
nally said of a nurse who looks after a child } .
* sS
J.m ® J ^ - ^‘ I bought leek in¬
tending to eat it with my bread ? but it proved fatal to
me . cf. et c. y which is to be preferred to
the pvb, given here,
aSs 2^
jiJ [\Vith To snap at? shout at? browbeat.
^
(.Jjlai T, An offer or compliment by a native
of Shj^h-Abdol-Azitn (/. e. an insincere offer or invitation).
Note, Sha^h ~ Abdol ~ Azim is a village south of Tehran?
with a shrine ? which contains the tomb of an Imam’s
descendant. It is said that the villagers ? who are not very
hospitable ? are in the habit of swearing their guests by
the holy shrine as to whether they intend to stay with
them any longer ? thus suggesting to them their un -
willingness to entertain them.
\^Add the following']:
L‘ L, Less of your courtesy and more of your purse.
{J- c.-* Jjj» [ Add the following };
L, E, A man’s praise in his own mouth doth stink.
a- a-ib ^ ( Slang ) It was noised abroad i
heard it ,
every one
- 501 -
^ ^ ^ C } 1 ) Irregular or disorderly.
2 ) Not yet confirmed. Ex ant pie : ^^1 ^ ^
• . , j} cfl) Shame on . . . ! Damn . . . ! Fie upon . . . !
{Lit. ) Spittle on. . I
S '•iA) Sporadic. Here and there.
J! The largest piece in his body was his
ear (/. He was crashed to small pieces ) .
Colloquial } to touch (a person ) for.
O
j^JS [Colloquial ) To fillip.
[Colloquial ) To stagger. To totter.
) 1 uu-l LO ijUk!^ <) T. A man’s body is
ennobled by his soul ? it is not merely fine clothes that
distinguish the man.
E. E. ( Same as for ^ etc. )
vK) To apply oneself to work i put one’s shoulder
to the wheel.
y To yield or subrnit.
OmI y He has taken after such a one in
character or behaviour. (Lit.) His body has touched that
of such a person.
Note. A variant form substitutes ^ for O*
A y ^ y- k ) u^l> One cannot bear the
exorbitant expenses of such a person.
Note. The correct meaning of this phrase in rather
obscurer but since means an “ ass-load ” r the expres¬
sion may have originated in a mill » the idea being that
the mill cannot cope with the excessive quantity of grains
loaded by such a person.
- 502 -
IT J [^CompoufJii colloquial word'] Spirits. Example :
t’ j d£:; j| He saved his face* he joined in
the laugh .
j J 1 j J I 3*^ on this side > and you
arc on the other side j of the stream ( i, e. Although we
have not come to an understanding j we can he at peace
with each other ) .
8 ^ * 8 ^
^5 V*^ ^ To ponder over something.
Note, literally means “ sea ” s and hence the
original sense conveyed hy this expression is “ to dive
into something ” .
8 ^ * 3 ^
( ^ H
A>^ Sincere© r true repentance.
Note, J as used in the Koran » means “ unal¬
loyed and sincere ” i but folklore has brought into exis¬
tence a man hy that name ? proverbial for his true
repentance.
( Slang } To bluff V also » to let off hot air.
8 ^ 8 ^
[Colloquial] To think of » or be intcre®
ted in ? something . Ex ample : w—^ Ja-i- ji
He does not think of these things .
8^-0 8 ^
b y T. They will not bury you in my
grave (/. e. You are not to blame for my acts ) .
8 ^ * 8 ^
J) To back out. To take one’s hands off. To go back
on a bargain.
8 ^ 8 ^
* * *•
«> J) T d ponder over something i also > to look
at something with subtlety. { Originally same as d*
Cr*-> tSj^ with “ String ” for } .
8 ^ O 8^8
(.i-*-) J-Pi jj y F. r. You
had better sleep and not backbite people .
- 503 -
I^otcs, 1) Xhe phrase literally means
“ to fall in some one’s fur cloak ” . In the translation of
GolestgiU by Platts it is observed that this originally sig -
nifies “ to uncloak or expose the faults ” of some one.
2) The word “also” has been left out in the translation?
as it can only be connected with tlie relevant story in
the Colestafi.
T, Do good and throw ( your bread ) in the Tigris ? and
God will repay you in the desert. {Cf. the Hebrew pvb.
by King Solomon j which reads as follows : “ Cast thy
bread upon the waters? for thou shalt find it after many
days ”) .
fcA) j J* His breeches made buttons? he was scared
to death.
To persuade some one to do a thiig
by temptirg him constantly. ( l^it ^ ) To fall into f ome
one’s skin.
Vj ^Colloquial } To be in a flutter ? to be
agitated or disturbed.
Note. The words and ^ are taken from the A.
phrase yy which means “ There is neither
might nor strength but in God ” ? and which is uttered in
cases of amazement i confusion ? anger ? etc. It seems ?
therefore > that the real meaning of the expression is “to
be stuck between the words and V ( from confusion
or agitation ) ” .
To leave in the lurch ? also ? to disap¬
point. ( Lfit. ) To leave in a gaping or yawninj? condition.
^5*^J- [Col loquial'^ To win some one’s heart.
( Lit, ) To find a place in some one’s heart.
To be repulsive.
Notes. ( 1 ) ojj literally means taste or elegance .
(2) This expression should not be confused with
which means “ to snub some one ? or discourage
him by preventing him from showing his talent
“ 504 -
mould i it is being shaped.
(Said ironically to one who has an excessive or unreason¬
able demand. It amounts to saying » “In vain you are
expecting ” )
Vb ^ To eat up i also ) to drink off. (L//.) To
bring the bottom of it to the top.
To draw to an end *» run short. ( Lit, ) To go to
the bottom.
j*^ \S^ To ( try to ) fin d the ins and outs
of a matter. ( Lit. ) To bring in sight the bottom and the
inside of something.
O '^^ { Colloquial } To egg ( or edge ) on i set on.
SO? *
' ji Power j authority » or influence. {Lit,) Sharp sword.
To touch fori get (money) out of, {Lit,)
1) To strike with a sword, 2) To incise i notch i gash.
F. T, Don’t try to do good > or you will
burn your fingers.
Notes, (1) v'y originally means “(spiritual) reward”>
but has come to mean “ a good deed (deserving a spiri¬
tual reward ) ” . ( 2 ) ^ 5 ^ is a colloquial contraction of
and better suits the rythm of the phrase. ( 3 ) Al¬
though it is practically true that in doing good to others
we may injure ourselves? the phrase is not morally a good
maxim to follow > and it is ? mostly ? the riming words
vU" and which make the phrase worthy of mention.
c
ty^ith the stress on the first syllable), 1) On the
spot i instantly. 2) As the case may Be.
To give way. To sidestep. ( Lit. ) To make
one’s place empty.
^ To Be shocked with wonder or disappointment.
It is Befitting ( or proper ) to.
Uproari row. Cf. the E. jangle. (Construed with
*1 j j 'pQ kick up a row i uproar.
To adulterate ? fake.
^ ^ C Also ) To get a firm footing.
To insinuate oneself into some one’s favour.
^ ^^ ^ To get a firm footing.
^ <s
• • • 43 *^ 0'“?’ matter what you do > or how you
improve it . . . ( Lit. ) Even if you give it an additional
life ) . . .
be long in the agony of death .
{^Figuratively) To Be in great trouble or confusion.
o jA»» Jjy dear son > you haven’t
seen yet a table with no Bread on it (/. e. You have not
met ^N^ith any hardship > and hence you cannot appreciate
what money is ) .
wtwU oaMm T. May your life Be preserved ! (Said By
way of comfort-and often ironically - to one who has lost
something > or whose property has been stolen } .
Very dear or close : said of a friend.
t Contraction of olr } Very dear
- 506 -
Or close > very intimate » ** united as two kernels in one
sliell Two souls in one body.
save one’s hide {or skin) i go scot-free.
. • . \S^j\ He is ready to give his life
for ... {he. He is in fervent love with ...» also > he
loves. , . very much ).
It cost him his life, (hit, ) He laid
his life on it.
To he in the agony of death, {^FigUf atively
To drudge » plug away .
^ ^^ The ass drudges j and the
pack - horse eats.
E. E. To heat the hush while others catch the birds
( u’hich should be made to read One heats ) etc. ) .
gather strength. ( Lit, ) To take life,
have a narrow escape. ( Lit. ) To gain
one’s life free of cost.
F, F, He would rather give his life
than his clothes. Cf. ^^1 oV J.n etc.
( F. T. What a blessing it is > you
may thank your stars* thank Heaven. ( Used ironically when
a situation has not gone from bad to worse } ,
( Lit. ) There is (still) ground for thanking (God).
LeJi ( Suitie ns ^y. ^ with **green”
for “ empty ” ) ,
*> ty>
To knit one’s brows j frown.
To smooth the brow j cheer up.
^ O ^
{Lolloqiiiax'] To tear > or be rent (* with a noise) .
( Colloquial } To rend (with a noise) .
C ^olloquial ) To back out ( ® game ) .
^ i } It gets on my nerves? it gets my goat.
-S07-
( ) C--J jK" Jac JaC jiti jp.
r. Put none tut the wise in office > though office is not
the business of the wise ( Platts ) .
ist V,
a>ij{ jjp- To te a cipher among numhersi be taken
to no account. ( oljjil; jg p] tt ordure ’’ or
‘‘dirt”).
<!-?■'{Compound wofd'^ By catches. Little by little.
At odd moments.
Desultory. {As an adverb'] By f its i by fits
and starts} desultorily. ) Jumped and escaped.
(A.) The pen (that wrote the words of Fate ) has
dried up \ i. G, fate is unchangeable.
To kick or recalcitrate against {or at) rules }
etc. To kick up one’s heels. ( L.it. ) To fling. To caper.
^ The very image; the picture. { Lit, ) The second
volume. Example: r j-s He is the very in age
of h is sister i they are as like as two peas in a pod.
o o o
Chattels or outfit. {L/t.) Rag and sack-cloth.
0*0
6iiAm Such a one is unrestrained (or lewd) ,
( Lit. ) His bridle is loosened.
L, He gets the start •> so that he may
not get behind . Cf, <F etc.
0*0
(^1 (ohAMlC) k) P. L. I have not made a bet
with him entitling him to ask for anything he wants if
he wins ( /. ^. I am not bound to do as he likes ) .
Note, A bet in which the winner is entitled to ask
anything he wants is made by breaking a wishing - bone
( ) with another .
0*0
The fair (or gentle) sex. (Lit.) The delicate sex.
0*0
- 508 -
[Slang'] Monkey-business* dodging. [Con¬
strued with
3 ^
^ T, To quarrel at the plough¬
ing season* and make friends at harvest. Cf. €tc.
EM. To quake at work and sweat at meals.
A sham quarrel (between two to deceive a third
party ) . ( Lit, ) The goldsmiths’ quarrel .
T. A sham quarrel needs no
mediator.
(V>«> l;) (1 ) Incongruous community* crowd con¬
sisting of all sorts of people. ( 2 ) A thickset growth of
hairs* also* a wild tangled mass* a jungle. {Lit,) A jungle
where ascetics or fakirs (originally all sorts of animals) live.
o o ■&
Running fight.
-O'
IyT ( Slang ) He is not of that stamp {or type).
sjs <}• ?5s
juiU ^VUbl^ ( Same as oMi' etc. )
A convincing or smashing answer* a smasher.
{Lit. ) A reply that breaks the teeth.
Vu An evasive or vague answer.
* {S^ [Ad^i the following ) =
E. E. To answer one in his own language ( which * in
this case * should read “ Every one should be answered
in his own language ” ) .
To cope. To grapple {or fight) , {Lit.) To go in
the (same) sack. See Jl>>- ->.> h //; the text.
How Sweet are thy reminis¬
cences * O youth ! { Lit. ) Where art thou * O youth ?
May thou be always remembered ! ( Often suggesting the
inability to do in old age what one has been able to do
in youth } .
3^ SS?
- 50 ^-
CT Give your horse a feed of barley*
and move to another station ( /, €, Move on quickly to
another place ) .
< 3 - oMfo jmt ( A^id the
i oil owing } ;
E, P. Shall the goslings teach the goose to swim ?
To weld ( intransitive verb ) . To heal up.
( Figuratively ) To be settled or conciliated .
^ <r ^
To weld. To cause to heal up. [^Pjguratively']
To conciliate i cause to make it up (again). G/. yd^
To boil or effervesce. { Figuratively } To roar
with anger or worry j fret.
( Slang ) T. Don’t worry > lest
your milk should dry up. ( Originally said to nursing mo-
theis* but jocularly to any one who brawls* or kicks up a
row* without good reason ) .
To mutter or mumble. ( h.it. ) To speak as
if one is chewing his words.
s> c.«*t 6 JU>b ( Add the following } ;
F. E. (a) He that seeketh findcth. (b) Seek till you find*
and you’ll not lose your labour.
! Hell with you ! Get off
O * 3^?
{ Slang ]} Xo peep » dare to speak. ( Often used
negatively. Example ^ *iL^ He sings small
now » he dares not speak any more } .
aSt -0-
*if b** The ins and outs of a matter i the details or
• •««
secrets of it. (Z.//,) The two larger surfaces of the astragalus,
iSt » sSt
- 510 -
? Cd i j"^ ^^"4^ ^"^i!?"
( Same as etc, )
C? -O’ ^
^wC [Slang] To make oneself scarce? slip off (of away).
<t ^
print. To fabricate or invent.
i^ote. On the basis of this idiom ’ which origi¬
nally means “ a printer ’* > has come to mean “ an im -
poster or charlatan ” .
( 5/) To flatter. To play the quack. To
draw the long bow > exaggerate.
r\ote, is also used as an adjective or noun.
Thus o'^W' means 1) It is mere boasting. 2) He is a
mere braggart ( Of quack ) .
SSS <5- SS
j—^ confirm. To corroborate. To silence or
refute (in a controversy ) . ( Lit, ) To fix or fasten with
nails on four sides*
Note, may also be used as a synonym of
which means to crucify” .
J wS ^^ T. The only remedy for
helpless {lit. remediless) people is death.
3^ *t>
i3^ t al ) Plump ? chubby .
J' To squat ( oneself ) down. ( Lit. ) To shut
a knife.
25^ *0 sSs
oi'/ A >Sj^ (*^35- ^To make up for the defici¬
encies of something y compensate a loss. (Lit,) To fill up
a gap or cavity.
o- ^
- 511 -
To Breathe one’s last. ( Lit, ) To throw
up one’s chin for the last time.
4il^ To haggle or Bargain.
O jfbO t el^ ( Add the iollouing^ :
E. E. Where shall the ox go But he shall labour ?
JlJ eLj- The Bottomless pit { a pit in hell which holds an
infinite number of sinners) . ( Lit, ) The pit of “ cala¬
mity ” or “ woe ” .
LJote, Dehkhoda, explains that this expression refers
metaphorically to a spendthrift or a very greedy and un-
satiable person.
( ^ ^^rn ( on some one ) \ also > to Be at
loggerheads ( with some one ) .
elS To look daggers. ( Lit. ) To look askance.
O ■»
C 'Without an “ ezjeh ” } At dusk. ( Lit. ) At
the time when lamps should Be lit.
2^8 * 2 ^
C ^^tloquial }, Fat i rich in fat.
Oily j soft i wheedling > glib.
} To outweigh. To predominate over .
To drowsei nodi doze off. To have (or take) a nap.
aCiJ'ojb To give one a start or surprise. To catch
one napping, ( Lit, ) To interrupt one’s nap or slumbers.
2 ^ ^ 2^8
J (SJa/ig') Rigmarole i irrelevant talk j nonsense.
2 ^ * 2 ^?
'^Jr ^ C } Nonsense i Bawlderdash i Bosh.
2 S ? 2 ^
) To tog oneself up (of out ) .
O vOO Xo play the fool in going to the market
( L e. Bring home Bad wares ) . Cf, j\j^, ojy> etc.
( Lit. ) To nluck out the market’s eye ( irouical ) ,
-S12-
iA) May the evil eye be averted ! Also > touch wood.
To hang on some one’s lips .
( Lit, ) To fix one’s eyes on a person’s moutli.
t Compound word } Waiting impatiently^ kept wait*
ing. (Lit. ) With one’s eyes toward the road.
Note. A vulgar synonym of (»^ is ->*^1
iSjt^ A (tr-?' To fix ( iit. sew ) the eye upon
something .
You are divining with closed eyes.
{ Said ironically to one who says something that is too
obvious } . Cf. L. etc.
E. E. Tell me news.
Note. The phrase may be extended to apply to all
persons.
{ ^ith 31 ) To connive at or overlook.
To renounce.
15^ O Eyes do not see eyes (/. c. It is very dark).
0‘^i?’To counteract (the effect of) an evil eye.
To lead a dog’s life. (Lit. ) Not
to open eyes of joy.
To expect or hope. ( Lit.) To have an eye.
^^3^ To influence by an evil eye.
I congratulate you ( for the arrival of such a
one ) . ( Lit. ) May your eyes be lighted.
Uii He depends ( or relies ) on you i he is
looking forward to you, (^3//,) His eyes are directed toward
your hands.
• Touch wood.
T. May the Evil One ( i. e. the Devil ) be blind.
To have views ( lit, a covetous eye)
upon something.
To glare (at some one ) * look menacingly,
vl?*^*** To deceive some one > as by jugglery.
( Lit. ) To blindfold some one .
I have no hope (or faith) in that-
- 513 -
is
I doubt it very much, ( Lit. ) My eyes do not drink
( of that ) .
I grudge him (such a thing ) ; I begrudge hi
doing ( such a thing ) ; also » I do not find it in my heart
( to . , . ) . (Lit.) My eyes do not take ( or accept ) that.
Ca«l 25b J He is pure - hearted and chaste i he looks
with purity.
^ He is fre6 from greed i he is not insati¬
able. ( Lit. ) His eyes and heart are satisfied ( or full )
He is greedy. (Lit.) His eyes and heart run.
{Compound tvord} Unsophisticated i who has
not yet understood sexual matters. ( Lit. ) With one's eyes
and ears closed.
Note. This compound adjective may be resolved into
the Original phrase of which it is made » i. e. we may Siiy
—I < 1 ^ j opposite of which would be J
•^1 “ He understands sexual matters ’’ .
{Colloquial for To keep
up ( with another person ) j emulate or vie.
To answer in a harsh or stiff manner ( lit.
like a hammer ) .
Note.
which has been used here as an adverb ?
is originally an adjective . Thus means a harsh
answer. • ' ■
sC? O 3^
e has one foot in
the grave.
Notes. ' (arrahman) is the title of a certain
chapter (or Surah) of the Koran > which, is recited for the
soul of a dead person. J means chops or jaws .
r i^
w tJj: means to get the smell of something j and
figuratively) to savour or smack of something. The combi-
nation of these gives the idea that the person in question
is nearing the time when his jaws must be closed » which
is- done when a'man diesS and the‘above Surah is to 'be
recited for-his soul. Cf '; of c—-I
33 ■
- 514 -
haJ' •-» 45 ^ Jr, ( Slang ) To VOW one^v wild oatv.
^
oAJJ^ C—1> f^s-T ^ E. E. (1) To find (Of know) the length
of one’v foot. (2) To get round a person.
Note, IB the imperative root of 0**-^ “ to strut ”»
and J (*r has come to mean coquettish elegance ” .
Hence c—b perhaps means originally “ to find
out the coquettish moods of some one. ”
1 ) C See in Note under the preceding entry )
2) Knack i trick.
85 ^ *
C.J eo: <to- He is at the end of his tether.
( Lit. ) His satchel or hag has been emptied.
To squat or crouch.
sjt o sSs
To clutch ; catch at i gripe 5 grapple { with .
It does not appeal to one. ( Lit. ) It has no
grip on one’s heart.
{ Slang } To spread a rumour.
To suffer the evil consequences of some*
thing. ( Lit, ) To he cudgelled for something.
OAJJ^ J kSj^.A To receive the punishment belonging
to another » be a scapecoat. Cf. the preceding entry.
pwt to the blush by one’s kind action.
(Lit.) To give a good beating to.
ajUi Barebones i mere skin and bones ; person reduced
to a skeletone. ( Lit. ) Drumstick.
crd> ^ y
C ) ij eU ^ ^ T. If you cause
your own star to be ill , do not expect the Times to
make it lucky ( i. e. to render you lucky or fortunate) .
c. Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves.
- 515 -
^J-> iSj'^
( Aaa the following E, E. ) ;
A Baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.
^ 45^k.r^ jm» Lj 4Jo
\^Add the following^:
Cf. the E, If you play with boys > you must take boys’ play.
0 ^. 0 ^The whole body. ( Lit, ) The four pillars
of the body.
Wide open. { Related to ^ 5 *^^ which means
“a pent * house or lean * to ” } .
T. His four kings met with four
aces ( /. e. He met an opponent stronger than himself ) .
358 -O'
So much the better.
[f^olloquial'y With a vengeance. Example :
'*^*^ * <*^ ^ The rain came down with a vengeance.
? C.-I <L^ What is going on ? What is up ? [Lit, ) What
is the news ?
^ o
iColloquial } He is no scholar i there is
not much in him. [Lit,) He is not loaded with anything.
Ufla [S^olloqui al'] Nothing doing. (Said to disap¬
point one who has asked for a favour} . ( Lit, ) Nothing
will be congealed. Cf. the French “ Cela ne prend pas ”.
» siSs
c
^ shopkeeper who charges a low price for his
goods > a fair seller. (Used as a quasi proper name*
meaning one who has made his pilgrimage to Mecca } .
A ( nigger ) minstrel. ( Used as a quasi proper
name } « being a proper name given to many negroes}.
858
- 516 -
( Proper name sometimes given to a ^tork ) ,
A lanky person.
j {^Compound tvord'\ Equipped and prepared) ready
for service. ( Pit, } Harnessed or trimmed.
. 3^8
I To put on weight or flesh. To come round » come
to one’s senses. Cf,
tXo f He came to his senses i he came round.
I J'ot in the moed to do it.
Ji- ( Slang ) To go pleasuring. To have a fine time.
Jb> To bring some one round i bring him to
his senses. ( Figuratively ) To give it to some one hot i
serve him out. cf. u
f Jb- I don’t feel well > I am ill.
To get it into one’s head i understand. { Often
•*—’ I did not get it into my head. Cf,
i5 ^ bring home ( to ) 1 explain or demonstrate. To
cause to understand.
He lost his enthusiasm. ( Lit, ) His heat
subsided .
UmL) May he not enjoy it ! (Lit, ) May it be
unlawful for him.
To waste or dissipate i also » to make a mess of.
( Lit^ ) To declare unlawful. — To deny
oneselt something.
To be greedy. To guzzle i eat greedily.
^ 5i ) To be worried) fret and fume.
sS? -a- sSs
To d raw one out.
Bad or abusive language.
C*«-f 4)U> jS^ F, T, A word that ia spoken
maturely leads to derision.
- 517 -
Note. is “ raspberry ” > and o^i or
0»J' J 9 means “ to give the raspberry ” .
^^***j^l h«Tve the last word. (Lit, ) To
cause one’s words to sit on the chair.
-O' i-Amm wWl) *0t^A Ij c*«tj ti{ A<^/d the following ) ;
E. E. Fools and madmen Speak the truth.
J>.m jSf They had words i /. <?, a dispute.
He contradicted himself.
^j\jj I have no objection. ( Lit, ) I have nothing
to say.
j\ To hold some One in reverence '•> stand in
awe of him ? have a high regard for him.
To call some one to account.
1 VU To run up an account.
He is ( or will be ) ruined ^ it is ( or will
be ) all o/er with him. ( Lfl. ) His account is clear.
ij- h jir w He took an example and caused no
more trouble. ( Lit^ ) He calculated his position.
JL To begrudge others’ wealth.
< 3 - ^{ Adci the folloading ) ;
E. E. Th'j envious man shall never want woe.
Fair and square. (Lit.) (Done ) after the ex¬
ample of Hazrate ~ Abb 2 lS » son of Ali ? and one of the
martyrs in the incident of Karbela.
45" Forsooth ! { Ironical for “in truth .
0-1 b You are right 9 you have reason.
»5-?l|^ I am indebted to him. ( Lit. ) He has a
right on my neck.
1-^ (3^ what friendship requires.
oiT* 1 j^y { Colloquial ) To serve o»»
out. ( /.it. ) To put what is due one in his hand.
- 518 -
wU?*' J ^ I Colloquial ) Bribe.
Note. means “ a right*’ or “what is due to some
one ” > and means “ an account ” .
{Colloquial'} {Slang} To play a trick.
jJ ( Compound word ) Indispensable or essential.
(Lit.) Prescribed by a physician.
To analyze carefully. { Lit. ) To beat cotton \
live as a cotton*blower.
The legitimate person doesn’t sec it.
( A joculatory way of saying that such and such a thing
doesn’t exist at all } .
Compound word } Bondman or slave ( often
used as an adjective ) . ( Lit. ) (One) who wears the ear -
ring of slavery.
<aJb. To reduce some one to slavery.
( Lit. ) To cause him to wear an earring. Cf.
3^8 * 82 *
Bear-garden. ( Lit. ) Public baths for women.
Note. Women were notorious for being very noisy
in public baths * which are becoming obsolete.
s> *
To focus one’s attention » collect
one’s wits.
C.*-( He is out of his senses. He is absent-minded.
Note, which originally means “ thrown down ” j
means figuratively “ digressed ; deviated ” .
^ I resumed my spirits i I recovered. Cf.
F. T. I refer his judgment ( or case ) to God.
85* 3S*
( 1 ) I have no patience with him.
(2) I am not in the mood to do it. Cf. the next entry.
- 519 “
^ I am {of was) fed up. I (have) lost patience.
NoU. means originally a bird^s crop or maw i
and figuratively (1) patience i (2) mood* (3) compass;
reach of the mind.
•ft vi-t c-U J b >J {^Add the following'} :
E. E. He has swallowed shame and drunk after it.
J **v5^ Ready ( on the spot ) > available. { Often used
l>y dealers to mean The commodities are sold with all
faults ” ) .
238 * tSs
Dilemma. Confusion ; perplexity.
232 * 33 *
CmmiI 1) It is a pity. 2) It is too good ( for such and
such a purpose ) .
^ 1) It is a pity that. 2) Only. — (*V.
If I only could find him alone.
^ Embezzlement. — Jt* J To embezzle or
misappropriate .
232 232
C
^ Out of question ; not to the point.
{Compound word} An ill-disposed and treacherous
person. ( Lit, ) A star-thistle or caltrop.
232 * 332
4^ \j\mS‘ To be fond of ( or love ) some one.
232 * 232
^ ^jt L*. T, It is an ill meal which
is not shared with others. Cf.
jm j Shame on him ! ( Lit, ) Dust on his head !
ji Alas for me ! Cf. the preceding entry.
Note, A more emphatic variant is /. e.
All the dust in the world (be) on my head.
1
- 520 -
F. 2, Death purges usi of {or from ) our sins.
C/. *cr j\S\^ lai etc.
He is a good mixer. ( Lit. ) He is like
London rocket-seeds ( j which are harmless j and agree
with » any temperament ) .
oLi F. T. You have never fostered me
as a mother ( and hence you won’t worry for my death ) .
( You Say that to one who is too free with » and takes an
oath on » your life } .
Note. oLj is a beverage consisting of sugar and
London rocket - seeds. It is given by mothers to their chil¬
dren as a means of quieting them.
^ ^L> Dust and rubbish. has no specific meaning}.
^ Cr ^
<11^ A person who frequently calls on his friends
or relatives without waiting to be invited.
Note. means a maternal aunt.
Jj Jj 4ll:> A gadabout woman i ‘‘ Aunt Gadabout ” .
C-bJ? An old fogey who talks too much.
hole. is the diminutive of and means a little
or contemptible woman.
The “long-necked auntie” {a quasi proper
name for the camel } .
To leave all jokes asid^. { Lit. ) Void of
all ( other ) things"
To beguile or deceive. (T//,) To leave raw or crude.
^ (1) Nothing doing. ( 2 ) It is all quiet. ( 3 )
There is no news {literal meaning'}
Spare my blushes.
If your heart could ^peak » I know you
are too willing i why do you pretend you are not ?
-521 -
{ Said
{L,it May God ask the depth of your heart ?
F. r. What a good thing is luck
hy one who sees that another has been lucky } .
\jS- .We may still hope. ( L,tt, ) God is great.
©1 A pleasant journey (to you) . Bon voyage ! Good
luck to you ! Farewell ! ( Bit, ) May God be with you.
F. T. God*s sure to * give the clothing j
But who deserves to wear i t
The meat also He doth send »
Whose teeth deserve to tear it }
Notes. (1) rl-«l is “ body ” . .. ( 2 ) The original P.
has “bread for “meat’* .
OiCi U cu-t j p,ia. \jJ>- C Same as ^•>
aiO ^ with “ right and left ” for “ one and
the other ” respectively } .
JT To pray » or implore to God? constantly? wish
earnestly 5 look for eagerly. ( Bit, ) To repeat saying ?
“ Would to Heaven that ” .
iAlC) \j May God judge ( Of try) him ! { A form
of invoking vengeance on one who has done us an ill turn} .
lAJj** 1^>- l\ L . May God bless it ! { Ironical prayer said
when bread or other food is found to be very uneatable
or unsavoury } .
c.-»l ['Same as 1-*^ }
Ijlr 1a^ fjL;> F. T. There is a line of
demarcation in the wlieat (i. Every one should be con-
tented with his portion ) .
. ..<r Would to God that . . .
LoJ 1j Jimi I’ll thank you
for the next ? for this I am sure of.
T. May God make it lawful for us to eat your future
bread and salt.
Heaven forbid ? God forbid.
To go to see some one ? be admitted to
his presence. ( Figuratively ) To give it ( to ) rre let
- 522 -
retaliate some one’s behaviour upon him.
To carrj an ass to the house - top (/.
to put something an the wrong place) .
Stinking of money. [Asa substantive^ Money-bags.
^ Even an ass will get a fever. (Said to one who
wears heavy clothes in a hot weather ] .
* sS
Trumpery ) frippery i pedlary.
[Colloquial'} Higgledy-piggledy# confused) chaoticr
irregular. ( Lit, ) Asses mixed with one another.
2 ^ < 3 - 8 ^
To cut oneself loose (from one’s fa-
mily ) . ( Lit, ) To separate one’s expenses.
^ Main and Vninor expenses.
[Compound slang} Crabbed or cramped.
[As a substantive} Crabbed writing » scrawl. (IJt,) Crab
( and ) frog.
[Compound word} Drudgery (for little or no pay).
{ Ltt , ) Carrying (loads) like an ass.
^ yj J A He has given away the
ass ) paid the money ) and forfeited his life.
( See the anecdote appended to ^ etc, )
(o^ j^) To square accounts with some
one i pay off (of settle) old scores with him i have a crow
to pull ( Of pluck ) with him.
Note, wL-.- literally means “ small accounts ”.
jlJ ( Compound word ) Sundries i odds and ends.
( Compound word } Sundry ) annoying orders
( especially by one who is not entitled to give them).
^ jjT U ij b ^ r. He eats the ass with
the pack-saddle > and the dead with the grave. (Said of
a very greedy person ? who has no scruple to eat what is
unlawful ) .
Notes, 1 ) jji- ( hhoor ) — which incidentally rimes
with — means either a pack-saddle or a sack. 2) The
- 523 -
rariant given in the text for this phrase is -^>^1 ^
^ 1*^ J in which JI means “ manger ’* .
But probably the correct form is the one given here.
^ jb M^b S O Fetch the ass and load it with
beans. ( Cited when an act has resulted » or threatens to
result ) in a scene or quarrel} .
^014 ^ 1 j> j O He is providing a
manger for the ass which he has not yet bought.
Cf, the E. Boil not the pap before the child is born.
^ ( See Note under >• in the text, }
To be fooled or wheedled. ( L,it. ) To be made an
ass of. cf, Ci^J' >-
(ji {Slang\ He is a big shot (i. e, man of influence).
Cf.
-O w^b 4-C«J i^j-^ 4^--4^
[Add the following £. E. };
If an ass goes a travelling » heMl not come home a horse-
To inculcate on » c-^use to understand. [Not to
be used in polite conversation i as it means literally to
make an ass understand ** } .
aSs <3- 3^8
^resign one’s breath i relinquish one’s life.
( Lit. ) To make one’s gown empty.
* 35t
JT To fool. To wheedle or blarney. {Lit. ) To make
an ass of. Cf.
<ir t3^
^^ L. E. That which
may fall out at any time may fall out to* day.
F. T. If the jackal is to snatch the cock in the morning* let
him snatch it even when the night is young.
cf. etc.
o ojC ^Vb c.-! > C Add the following'] :
L. E. It is an old wine in a new bottle.
[Colloquial] He stood transfixed with amaze¬
ment. He was stupefied. ( Lit. ) He was dried up.
- 524 -
Mere, Outwardi lukewarm. (Lit,) Dry and empty.
The down on the cheek of a youth.
^ To cancel something by crossing it out.
Note, <> ^ refers to the figure ^ ( nine ) » which >
when drawn on anything ) cancels it ,
,S Ias>- To draw lines serving as a witness of pne’s
warning. ( Freely ) To (pre)warn some one.
^ o ^
*tA:> To suppress. To annoy or bore. (Lit. ) To choke.
^ Ct
{Colloquial^ Half-witted.
ty>
He is not in a good mood.
He was displeased or upset.
ty
jl^ He did not turn a hair j he kept a stiff
upper lip. ( Lit, ) He did not knit his eyebrow-
t)b ^
It is not a dyeing - vat ( i. e. It
is not so easy as you think« also i it will not be
finished so soon as you think ) .
(jr It made me laugh.
^ji J fell asleep i I went off.
I feel sleepy.
I can’t get to sleep.
2^ O 3^
• C. While the house is rotten to the very foundation ?
the good owner is planning to decorate its veranda.
^ o ^
F.l, ti good turn will one day return.
C/, \j <; jj
L- F. Virtue is its own reward .
^ o ^
-525 -
^"T J sjT 4) ( j F, T. To expose oneself to fire and
water ( L e. spare no pains ) ,
E, E. To leave no stone unturned.
j^. fj ^show oneself as a dead mouse
( / . pretend weakness ) .
j^j To be silently self - consuming. ( Lrt. ) To
eat oneself . Cf. the E. To eat one’s heart cut.
O To swell like a turkey-cock. To be snobbish.
{Lit,) To take oneself.
above oneself. (Lit.) To lose oneself.
* ^nJOT \j o^jT ( A^ci the i oil owing'] ,
cf. the E, A burden of one’s own choice is not felt.
O' 2^ ,
( ^jUS' 4-r,j-Sl)T T. Happj^ is he
whose burden is somewhat lighter. <S \ etc.
E, E. Much coin > much care.
To ask one to come and help himself ( to
food 1 etc. ) .
Loim Good for you ! How lucky you are !
C.-< P- P’ When you
eat peaches with such relish ? you must expect to liave
loose bowels. Cf. ^ etc.
Notes. {\) J* Of means a rumbling noise i
also i grumbling. (2) is a nincompoop or dupe.
JO J ^Ui? who is ) outwardly good and
inwardly bad. E, E. A wolf in sheep s clothing.
C^JlP Ji>We had a good time i we enjoyed ourselves.
j3j^ *1^ jiJ; He is cloyed with pleasure. ( Said of
one who forfeits his good chance } .
JUU 1-.) Not a single person had
a bleeding at the nose ( t. e. everything was quiet ) .
Ja ®®* one’s heart,
r or o^.J To commit murder i shed blood.
To stir one’s pulses. ( ) To
cause one’s blood to boil.
- 526 -
To grind down iome one i grind
some one's face. (Uf,) To fill glasses with the blood of
some one.
J ) Covered with blood » as a wounded
person j weltering in one's blood.
* * $
^ To loaf j idle away one’s time.
( ) To measure the street.
He won’t be able to do much » I doubt if
he is capable of doing much. Also , it will cut no ice.
^ ^ *** man to conquer Khfyb at,
C , thf E. It doesn't set the Thames on fire.
No^e. Kheybar was the name of a Jewish fort con¬
quered by Ali , whose epithet has since come to be
i. c. the Conqueror of Kheyb sf.
To divine by counting beads at random
(calling one “ good " ? and the other “ evil ” }
} To look blank i [in the past tense )
his countenance fell.
To disconcert » bowl over.
VU [Slang) To make a mess of it > fizzle
out i make oneself ridiculous.
^ oa- 4 ^ 5 ^ At the worst i at most. ( 0^^^ means to
be intensified or aggravated }
To do justice to some one > redress his grievance.
Avenge me on him.
^ ^ { Colloquial ) To fuss » kick up a row.
^To betray oneself. ( Lit, ) To say
to the police fuperintendent » Come and arrest me ” .
$ o tS*
•S { ■^1 3 The whole kit > all relatives.
jW J jb All one has > one’s all.
sS •» aSi
To go to smithereens i be shattered.
Note. The transitive form would be oL-cf*^
to shatter i break to (small ) pieces
To be bereaved (of a relative) ,
I was bereft of him (or it ) j also ^ I never
attained my end. 1 was disappointed for ever.
25 * *
^ To (attempt to ) go back on a bargain.
(Lit.) To bring out a flask » intending to have it filled.
O ) To give it (to) some one hot >
serve him out i beat (Of punish ) him severely.
Note, means in business “ to make
an earning on something ” .
J A A I Slang } To gad about. To go out.
Notes. (1) J is a childish word meaning “ out”.
(2) is an adjective meaning ^‘gadabout”.
- 528 -
“ h
{ iS'^ ) J 0,5 T. Covetousness brings
birds and fishes to the snare.
All covet > all lose.
Id® '^•3
i . A meek sheep in one’s presence^ a man-devouring wolf
in one’s absence. (Said of a double-dealer)
^:.ir To look for some one every where
( . from one door to another ) ,- '
sOt -o 30?
^}tT To mind something i care for something.
Example; J-U; Don’t care for that i'nevermind.
^ Not to be able to contain oneself ( for
joy) . Example ■■ j| she cannot contain
herself for joy.
filial To backbite some one. {Ul, ) To fall
inside one’s fur coat.
*
O*^*^ To mark time.
Ne stood transfixed with amazement.
( ) He was dried up in his place.
w--) ^IT r. There is no light in
the prow ( J//. brow) of this ship » such as would serve
as an indication of its deliverance ( /. e. There are no
signs of hope ) .
[Colloquial) Among other things i inciden¬
tally. ( Lit, ) Included in Section 29.
f T. He dwells at the gate of Hell. (Said
of a person who > whenever a loss is incurred by him ,
takes it easy > an4 habitually says “ /. e. To hell
with it — this meaning in Persian “ I don’t care a fig »
nevermind ? etc. ” ) . See j:> j^ii
<s®
pocket has been closed up by a spider’s web (/. e. he has
long been penniless ) .
jb ‘t>C> Open-doored (/. e. hospitable) .
- 529 -
Note, The opposite of this would be <51^
which means “ inhospitable ” .
^ ^
<0LiMAib t c ^Although I have
many grievances) I have now to the see to my neighbour
who is tapping at the door. Cf, ^ stc.
In the course ( lit, hand ) of preparation i in
preparation.
j*» Inconvenience , trouble. ( L.it. ) Headache ( -r-) .
jm To inconvenience) put to trouble.
jT To open one’s heart ( to some one ) i tell out
(or air ) one’s grievances.
*{> 2 ^
To cut short > curtail i abridge. ( L>it, ) To sew
together ) seam up.
{ fcAJb li ) He knows his lesson
{ /. €. understands his business ) very well.
{,^taiig\ Shut up. Slop it. Hold your tongue
( Of jaw ) . ( Lit. ) Put the lid on it.
< 1 - 2 ^
On the point of i about to. Ex ample cj^j j->
He was about to go.
Note. shotaf - erroneously pronounced shofO^~
is the plural of “ cornice ” or “ perlon ” .
C <^''***' 3 IfcA —S
T. As to his outward ) I see no fault in it i and as to his
heart ) I know not the hidden.
Jl5>- At the same time.
JT ( Colloquial ) To touch off i let off i fire off. To
sift. To deduct.
To swindle out. To pump out.
To pass away > die. (With ) To overlook i con¬
nive at-
34
- 530 -
^ To break omi » as a war. To be kindled or Spread.
( Transttively ) To overtake. To overspread.
A rousing or Swingeing lie> a rousen thumper i
or blazer. ( Lit, ) A horned lie.
jlT .d ( Same as <^U jX )
^ ^
( 9 ^^^ Higgledy-piggledy » confused.
^ 6® between bark
and tree.
i . To go (or mediate ) between man and wife.
Note. Dehkhoda^ observes that the advice O-^
*4^ J i, s. “ Do not go between man and
wife ” has occurred in P. literature j having been
ascribed to Anowshifav^n j a Sassanide king.
2 ^ ■& 2 ^
To prove (to be) untrue i contradict itself.
f To contradict oneself. ( Lit. ) To turn
out a liar.
* * sjt
It was a coincidence > an unexpected occa¬
sion offered. ( Lit , ) A door struck a board.
( Add the following E. E. } ;
The wind keeps not always in one quarter.
( iS Every one likes to
purchase the unique pearl (of the pearl without its shell).
( Sa'^di has referred to a beautiful orphan } .
< 3 - 3 ^
{^^iioquial ) Gossip. Nonsense.
sS o ^
( Compound word ) Disorderly place where every
one steals or embezzles. ( Lit. ) Market-place to which
thieves resort.
sjs <r ( Add the following ) ;
L. E. The fox knows much j but more he that catches him.
-531-
^ To show up new courage. To show a
hold front. {Lit.) To bring one’s hand out of one’s sleeve.
b.^1 To take an action (imprudently). To lose
one’s wits. ( Lit . ) To mistake the hands for the feet.
J b Thrown on one’s hack > left in the lurch »
disappointed. ( Lit. ) With one’s hands longer than
one’s feet.
To despair of one’s life. ( Lit . ) To wash
one’s hands of one’s life.
To let some one alone*) cease to bother
hi m. (Lit.) To take away one’s hand from a person’s head.
To dance. Sbc
To pull the legs of i make game ( or sport)
of. ( Lit. ) To lay hands ( on some one ) .
wU To ease nature. {Lit. ) To reach water with
one’s hand (for purification ) .
Vb At most. (The opposite of ^.
To prepare for work. To make preparations
for marriage. (Lit. ) To tuck (or roll) up one’s sleeve.
To appeal to some one for help.
( Lit . ) To take hold of some one’s skirt.
V
To change hands.
jr or JT To dilly - dally or procras¬
tinate. To gain time. ( Lit . ) To put from one hand
into another.
Don’t reawaken my grief, ( Lit . ) Don’t touch
my heart with your hand.
^ {Compound word } Living from hand to mouth.
To desist) {with 31} desist from ) cease.
cf. ^ j\^>
Lad j> It happened that > by chance.
jmJ To get rid of i play off » send away » send
on a fool’s errand.
Note. ^ perhaps means holding one’s head
with one’s hand ( in amazement ) .
- 532 -
j^. To make minor repairs in some¬
thing i also > decorate it slightly.
^ c.»i»^ To caress some one. ( Lit, ) To
rub one’s hands on his head and ears.
I—To act with extreme caution or reserve.
{Lit, ) To walk with a stick.
To start {on a) work.
{^ See c.—j /V; tt;e Addenda^
Qjmi To come to blows j come to close quarters.
( is same as ^ q. v, below }
<5*? c.-^ or ( CompoMfid word } At close grips or
quarters » hand to hand. {Lit Hand on (another’s) collar.
To lose one’s hair > be excited or embarrassed,
Example ; -uL Keep your hair on i keep cold i
don’t get excited.
I^ote, The original sense of <--L appears to be
“ so confused as to be unable to know one’s hand from
one’s foot ” .
To anticipate some one. To take the wind
out of a person’s sail. ( Lit, ) To take the front hand
( doubtful )
You may rest assured.
{Lit. ) Put your hand on your stomach.
Single - handed 1 alone.
hA) To accelerate
{ Lit. ) To move one’s
one’s action >
hands.
be quick j move (on).
Empty-handed. [Figuratively) Disappointed.
O-J To be tampered with. (Lit.) To be touched.
• C.-.i Bravo ; Well done ! Good for you. ( Originally
said to one who has had a good hand in cards } .
To reach out the hand; stretch one’s hand,
c Figuratively ) To beg.
C-j! 0-.S C.-.J He has the upper hand i he has superiority.
( Lit, ) The hand is his ( hand ) .
To lay (lit. raise) hands on some one.
-533
To touch {usually with . To clap (the hands).
To embark (on) . To set ( to ) . Cf, o^J >
4 j^***»*i He cannot reach his back with his
hand ( /. e. he does not habitually close the door after
him when he comes in) .
Cf, the E. I see you come from Bardney.
He is well-to-do. ( Lit, ) His hand
reaches his mouth.
•* 4 f A
His fingers are lime-twigs. {Lit. ) His hand
is smeared with syrup. {Also .sjb /. e. His hand
is stieky ) . ‘
S*" (..r‘“>S His fingers are lime-twigs. (Lit.) His hand is
crooked. Cf, c—
. 45 ^ \ Thank you for the trouble, ( Lit, ) May
U-/ your hand have no pain or ailment-
It is up to you to do it i it falls to you...;
you are the man for it. {Lit.) It kisses your hand.
{Otiginally *•^■5 } To wear on the hand
or on the fingers. To put or thrust one’s hand (in something).
.ji To outdo some one » make rings round
him. ( Lit, ) To pinion some one.
w—To deprive some one of
freedom of action; put difficulties in his way. (f-//.)To
put one’s hand in a walnut shell.
To cut off a person’s hand ( from
something ) ; make (something ) inaccessible to him.
( With jl ) To leave off ; stop i desist from. To
abandon ) give up. (Lit. ) To withdraw one’s hand from .
At least. { The opposite of vL-.-.? ^
^ , j\ 4 ^^^ 0*0 It is nothing short of.
J Clapping of hands and playing of drums.
( Liguratively ) 1 ) Difficulties ; troubles. 2 ) Monkey
business. 3 ) Details j enlargement. — j j
To make trouble i create difficulties.
1) To embark on (also ->j) , 2) To start
- 534 -
flouting, E,xUfHple ! j) Xhey started flou¬
ting him.
To be arrested or captured. ( Figuratively )
To be grasped, Fx ant pie ; j grasped the
matter » I got it.
My hands are full * I am busy.
My hand itches ? I expect to
earn some money. ( Superstitious belief} .
^ ^ T, Thanks to mum¬
my for the bride she hau brought home. (Vulgar way of
denouncing or condemning some one’s act } .
1^.-1 jji)b J He is in straitened circumstances j he
is hard up for money. { Lit. ) His hands and wings are
tied up.
O.S^-r U J c.*-^ To make every effort. To shift* use one’s
resources. ( Lit. ) To struggle with one’s hands and feet.
cU) U CjU .,5 F.T. You might be allowed to
do such acts if you cut your limbs shorter by a saw.
( Said to a grown- up person who does childish acts)
To be disconcerted or embarrassed.
To lose one’s wits. ( Lit, ) To lose one’s hands and feet.
To cross (or measure) swords i break
a lance. ( Lit, ) To make one’s hand supple.
J Open - handed i generous. (Lit. ) Open-handed
and open-hearted.
To find an opportunity. To acquire skill.
^5*“**^ 4 ^**'*^ I Colloquial } Deliberately of one’s free will.
i Compound word) United. (Lit.) Hands one.
Example; jl^ey
(sometimes o-j
O ^
To receive ( money ) for the first lime in the
morning.
Notes. ( 1 ) h.as sometimes been rendered by
“ handsel ” , which tradesmen’s folklore makes either
lucky or unlucky. Cf. the E. Thieves’ handsel ever un¬
lucky. ( 2 ) If the first customer of the day attempts
- 535 -
to buy something on credit » he is said to n»ake the hand
sel ‘ blind ’ . Hence the ph rase ^
3^8 3^8
c^U-* h To go to one’s last home i awake
to life immortal. ( Lil. ) To accept God’s invitation,
8^ tJ- sSl
Of <U3A9'a ( Slang ) Trouble i bad fix. (Perhaps fu-
sion of and 1
3^ -{> SSS
a«(i Elimination of an evil by a worse evil.
2^ <5- gjg
To give vent to one’s anger i vent one’s
anger on some one.
To die of grief. To die frustrated in one’s hopes.
C ^is also short for hectic fever ” 1
^ ^
Shopkeeping r (good) salesmanship. (By extension')
Praising one s goods i also 5 wheedling language.
3^ * 2^
^ ^ ( dicing ) To rid oneself of i play off i send on
a fool’s errand,
^ ) Chaps Or chops. ( Lit, )
Head and snout { or mouth )
hi—To lose one’s heart » surrender one’s heart
to love.
To lose one’s heart.
C?^ <Sjt^ To bend one’s heart on j or let one’s heart
be won by > something i fix one’s attention on something.
O*^ To pluck courage. {^Lit, ) Xo hearten oneself.
To win (other people’s) hearts i take a per¬
son’s heart within one’s hands > humour him.
. . . j1 i^J* He cherishes a secret resentment
against. . . ; he is passively angry with . . . Cf, the E. He
has a full heart ( which has a different meaning ) ,
^j>3^{<-^ompound word} Offended. (Lit.)Oi a turbid heart.
- 536 -
Jti To get a thing off one’s chest i unbo¬
som oneself i relieve one’s feelings. ( Lit. ) To empty
one’s heart. ^ ^
-?! J To take offence at J be annoyed by.
J.S [Slang compound word) Object {or subject)
of self-flattery.
To hearten or encourage. [Intransitively'] To pay
cl^e attention. To surrender one’s heart to love.
[Slang] To be absorbed in, or
charmed by, each other’s conversation. (Lit.) To
exchange one’s heart for another’s kidney.
J.i To waver or dilly-dally. ( Lit. ) To have dif-
ferent hearts {/. c. niinds ) .
^ He was relieved by a breath of fresh air .
( Lit, ) His heart was opened.
To disappoint (some one) . ( Lit. ) To break (some
one s) heart. Example : Don’t disappoint me.
He is in a ferment. ( Lit. ) His
heart boils as garlic does in vinegar.
t j\] To abandon i give up i lose hope in.
( Lit. ) To wrest one’s heart from,
( Same as )
VI) My gorge rises at it. ( Lit. ) My heart comes up.
I pi‘y him ; I feel sorry for him.
{Lit. ) JVIy heart burns for him.
^ I ajn feeling side i I feel nausea.
My heart goes out to him, ( Lit. ) He has
my heart.
4.1- lam (cr was) out of patience. - fU: j\ Jj
I ate my heart out.
heavy-hearted. lam homesick,
means “ narrow or tight ” ) .
JLv
It did my heart good.
> I was relieved.
( Lit. ) My heart was cooled.
- 537 -
<S" C.*«t I flatter myself that.
^ ^ I was moved with compassion.
I was shocked. {Lit.) My heart fell down.
c*-»J ( Same as ^1 (J.>}
do not find it in my heart ( to ) .
( Lit . ) My heart does not attest to it.
We were of the same mind. i^Said when
two persons simultaneously say the same thing ) .
^ To put something in complete
disorder, jJ-> means “the heart and the intestines’*}.
3^ C Colloqu}al } He is in good circunistances ?
he is well-to-do. ( Lit, ) His nose is fat.
He was discouraged. He was given a rebuff.
(Lit.) H is nose was burnt.
To discourage some one i snub him > give
him a rebuff. Cf, the preceding entry.
*
Marriageable ; said of a girl. ( Lit , ) Approaching
her fortune ( or luck ) .
<t ty>
j\ ^ as
^ C Compound word } Sly i cunning, ( Lit. ) Dock-
tailed > bobtail.
^ To fawn. ( Lit , ) To wag the tail .
( Slang ) To show a bold front ? become bold
or saucy. ( Lit. ) To put forth a tail.
id Near by i at hand.
O ^ Hold your jaw. ( Lit. ) Cover up your
mouth.
2 ^ * 2 ^
^ [Colloquial } To lie on the ground face
downward » lie prostrate.
<5^ ■O' *
- 538 -
[Colloquial'} Off the reel » uninterruptedly.
To breathe out. To speak. [W^ith 31) To pretend »
boast of J talk frequently about. Ex ample : 31
He pretends to be wise.
• ^
j? ^ To breathe in » inspire.
^ ^ To hold ones breath) remain silent.
oAJ' J To allow to draw) aS te?*. To steam or stew» as rice
food. To be stifling.
^ To draw » as tea. To cook under the action of
steam.
^ ( Colloquial } To grease some one’s palm.
(^V To reduce some one to straits i press
him hard » drive him to extremity » bring him to bay.
( Lil, ) To cause some one’s tail to be caught in a trap.
^^*3 [Colloquial ) Wealthy and influential. ( Lit. )
Thick-tailed. — U c-iiTfj [Substantive use} The bigwigs.
^ ^ o ^
o^itb L) To accompany ( musical term} .
J ^ ^ ( Great ) state. - j li In great state.
8 ^ * 3 ^
C.-*! J^'S His teeth are set on edge (/. e, he has taken
a bribe and cannot do such and such a thing) . Cf, the E.
I have a bone in my arm which in this case would be
II e has a bone in his arm ) .
To covet something » have views
upon it. (Lit.) To sharpen one’s ( covetous) teeth.
l-^A> ooi^ To resign oneself to one’s fate. ( Lit , ) To
offer one’s rib to destiny.
^ ( Slang ) Inconvenience i trouble i ado.
t T. The world is transient. (Remark remind¬
ing us that we must be of a forgiving attitude )
- 539 -
make mischief » set people at variance.
{The person who does this is said to be 0>r? 30 a mischief-
maker ) .
2^ * $
b He showed a clean pair of
heels y he took to his heels. {Lif,) He had two legs y and
borrowed two more.
o the following ) ;
Tv/o kings in one kingdom do not agree well together.
3^ To make an equivocal statement.
( l^it, ) To make a remark having two sides or aspects.
^ o ^
Jm I was greatly astonished. ( Lit, ) Smoke
arose from my head.
You will have to take
the consequences yourself. (Lit.) The smoke arising from
it will go into your own eyes.
To pass off in smoke > end in smoke > be squan¬
dered or dissipated [often ^13j 1 3 ^3^ } .
To dissipate. (Lit.) To turn to smoke. Cf.
Double-minded i wavering. { J-^ means “ heart ” and
figuratively “ mind *’ ) .
3^ E. E. To run with the hare and hunt
with the hounds. (^//.) To dance with two handkerchiefs.
25s -a- 3 ^
^ 3 ^3,^ Necessaries (of entertainment » etc.). (Lit,) Smoke
and breath.
2 ^ < 1 - 2 ^
j3^ Saving your reverence. ( Lit, ) par from
your Excellency.
Mote. The ^ oW 31 Jj^ may be a variant of 31
^ » but is chiefly used where there has been talk
of death > or other disaster > as it means “ Saving your
life ” y or “ May it be far from your life ” .
To be thrown away i be discarded. —
To digress > deviate from the main subject .
- 540 -
To throw away {of off ) j discard. To abandon.
To speed up > rev up (slarig) .
la^ \jl To abandon or give up somethings
also s to cancel it. ( L>tt, ) To draw a line round it.
To go round » revolve. To make a detour 1 turn
back before completing its journey.
Jit! To turn round one’s head i as money » etc.
which is to be given to the poor. (Figuratively) To say
in a roundabout manner. Ex ample ! ^ “V
To abandon some one J give him up i
also j leave him alone. (Fit,) To draw a line round him.
To go j or hang > round some one. ( This
means (1) to dance attendance on some one i and (2) to
be ready to sacrifice oneself for some one ( by turning
about him ) - chiefly used in the form - which
is a ph rase of endearment addressed to a child 5 etc.) .
Vicissitud es of fortune. ( Eit- ) The revolution
of the firmament.
j\ Entourage > environment.
1) To make a dead set at. (2) To pull the legs of.
3) To review i recapitulate. ( hit. ) To surround.
^ ^ the following E, E. );
Men are best loved furthest off.
'-UJy* ^ Colloqjiial ) To intrigue j carry
^ } on an underhand plot.
8 ^ O 2^8
2 ^ (Add the following note) ■
The E. has also A friend to every body is a friend to
nobody ’ > which is of Spanish origin.
To make a profit from both sides i have it
both ways. ( hit, ) To load in both directions.
-541-
O^J'^ { Coi^ Xo establish a firm footing
for oneself indirectly or in an implicit manner. (L'tt To
confirm a stake.
-O' 3^2
O'^jT To run about j be on the run i make a special
effort.
O * 2Sg
0*“^''^ 45 **^C (^olloquial ) To argue with some
one. (Lit.) To put one’s mouth to another’s n'outh.
To gape or yawn,
y 1 H is mouth watered.
® loose tongue ( lit. mouth ) .
^X-J To give hush-money to some one i grease
his palm. ( Lit. ) To shut his mouth.
or w- I (1) He has an attractive voice.
(2) He is eloquent or glib - tongued. (Lit.) He has a warm
mouth.
To bridle. To curb.
i^lxdf c*aI*a> Lfi We shall not meet each other until the
Resurrection Day. [ Said when one is going on a long
journey from which he does not expect to return } .
To estimate or appraise.
^ ^
Lanky i very tall.
Not acquired systematically 1 immethodical. ( Lit. )
Cultivated by dry farming.
sXaMil .rolT Nole uficler
2 ^ * 2 ^
O C.-I jL^ { Adci the iollou itig'^ :
L. L. A fool knows more in his house than a wise man
in another’s.
^ To measure.
Notes. (1) is to measure By the ztff’ (= 4l
inches ) . { 2 ) O^-^, is short for ‘ a liquid or dry
measure
^ <!r ^
Of *0^ To be harassed or wearied.
0*5*^53 To harass or weary.
J
4j iJP’O Concerning j regarding i on the subject of j in regard
to. ( T/V. ) Keturning or referring to.
To give the coup de grace to j despatch, (hit.)
To relieve or disburden some one.
J jij Amorous talks or complaints. Silent prayer for
one’s needs. ( hit.) Secrets and needs.
- 0 -
I OmO To come true i be fulfilled j also » meet a happy
fulfilment.
J Playing fairly and risking everything one
possesses.
Fair and square i aboveboard. ( hit. ) True or
honest > after the manner of ErUaUi - Hossei?i j the mar¬
tyred Imam.
-543-
To start ; set out i move. To be made available.
(Example : jIuj j^) operate or run (again) .
otj To start » set in motion i put in working order i
commission. - -b To promote some one’s
affairs ? help him { financially ) .
0.5^ ( J C.-*( ) jU o\j The way is clear and the road is
long ( /. e. You are free to leave > or to choose your
own way ) .
To be able to find ( one’s way ) . —•!-> { ifi
the dialect of Isfahan ) f don’t know ( how to do it. ) .
2) To walk ( used transitively }
To walk. To travel ( a specified distance ) .
©0 To pursue one’s own business. To go
one’s way.
To walk.
ofj To be admitted. To slip in. Example : oTjj ^‘LaLi^I
*h Certain errors slipped in.
jwC j^^fJ To proceed (or start ) on a journey.
To prepare (one) for proceeding (on his journey).
To
vote.
To pronounce
To deliberate.
a judgment > express one’s opinion.
To dissuade a person (from doing something).
To take the vote » pul a question to the vote.
id ^ p-
It has no connection ■> or nothing to
do j with the subject on hand.
• • • 4l May God bless . . . ! ( See special usage under
J Qj, page 233} .
^ To invoke God’s blessing.
To oack off (or away.) , ( Lit. ) To pack up
one’s clothes (or outfit ) .
To take off one’s clothes > also > to change them.
- 544 -
( Colloquial } ( Old ) clothes j duds.
To take place j happen » occur. ( Lit, ) Xo show
its face > present itself.
To leak ( out ) > ooze out. To penetrate > find
its way. To make a hole.
<3- 2^2
/ii-3 To rebuff a favour.
To follow a person’s footprints » track
down a person.
{ Colloqui al } Something that is likely to be re¬
jected. ~ It is definit(iv)e j it is final.
To pass (on) . To be rejected or repealed. To fail >
be turned down ^ as a student.
To reject. To turn off > as an offer* refuse to
accept. To refute or disprove. To defeat > as a bill. To
clear ( from the customs. ) .
^ To ( ex)change. To bandy.
2^ 2^8
^ j {Colloquial'\ To sap some one* exhaust
his vigour j overpower or overload him.
Note. cT'J or means (1) argil or clay* (2) firm
or solid.
To acknowledge receipt of a letter.
2^ <3* 2^2
To consent or agree. {Wi(h <;] To yield or submit.
To be willing. To prefer.
To be satisfied {or pleased) with some one-
To express one’s consent or Satisfaction.
To withdraw one’s charge i relinquish one’s claim.
2Ct O 3^
To take after; resemble. Example : o-| <iij
He has taken after his father.
* •
<x9^ 4i9j Gradually i in process of time.
- 545 -
Adjustment or settlement of a dispute.
{ With 31 } To lift (or remove) the ban ,on
( a paper ) . To release ( a property ) .
To rest > refresh oneself.
(jtlaC- To quench one’s thirst.
{Colloquial'^ To gloss over. To remedy.
o- 2^
oO<aJ An inconstant friend; a fair-weather friend.
{ ) A friend abandoning one half - way.
aS -O' $
^15^ {Slang'} To monkey* make mischief.
To make difficulties. ( Lit, ) To play the dancer.
aS *
To spur and ride full speed; clap spurs to
one’s horse.
Note, From this phrase comes the adverb v'S'J
which means ‘with great speed ; (lit.) spurring one’s horse’.
^ aSa ti- a^
Sprained. — (*^3^ I sprained my ankle.
C—wl®j To get the length of one’s
shoes. { Lit, ) To get ( or find ) the vein by which a
person is put to sleep.
To fulfil one’s duty * or pay one’s debts >
before one is demanded to do so. (Lit.) To bleed oneself.
uFj A strain of madness. (Lit,). A vein of madness.
To bleed or phlebotomize (by opening a vein) .
a>
Sj To pretend i play false ; (///.) play a part.
Note, Jj jg from the French fdl^.
aS? * aS?
^ To stampede or shy.
aS a^
To take pains ; toil. To suffer.
u&j To turn pale i lose one’s colour.
v^V To work out a scheme i plot.
To paint or colour ; stain ; dye also (J^3 ^
35
- 546 -
( To dupe. To gloss over.
To blush. (Z///.) To change colours,
^ ^ <mKij Attractive quality. ( Z///. ) Colour and odour.^
Complexion. (Lit.) Colour and face..
To prepare » as a lesson. To learn ( by heart ) .
a
To cause to flow. To smooth or lubricate.
O * s^; ‘ •
Peace be to his departed spirit.
(Lit.) May his spirit be happy. . . x- ;
,^^j 3 PSj' 0 T To'resort i appeal ? repair. To direct
one’s steps ) proceed.
1) To stoop to a request. 2) To deal aboveboard)
as a card. • . .
^ 1
^ . sS? * O
I ol—To, be cunning > as a fox J ( lit , ) to
play the fox. ' ' ~ ‘ '
Ready (to start ) > prepared. ( Lit.. ) With one’s face
to the way. -
Opposite* vis - a - vis.
^iih ) To face i confront, ...
(With To confront * as for cross-examination.
To be obliged to comply with a request. .
.^V ( ^ame as .sU
I haven’t got the least idea (or* infol^ma-
tion ) . ( L//. ) My ghost has no information.
Oi> {Mostly with <;} To make cheeky or bold 1 spoil. _*
or (Safiie as
Delicate situation ( preventing the refusal of n
request in the presence, of him who makes it).. -Also >.
standing on ceremony. - He waVin.i deli - '
cate situation (and-could not Vef use it). • ' *-•
To on^e’s face. . ‘ '
V. > *
547 -
Example : 1^ v^Oi* The Look was
selling like hot cakes. (Lit. ) To carry over the hand.
C Colloquial ) To be done in .
( W'/th <;) To play a trick on j circumvent.
jl *To split one’s sides (with laughter ). (Lit.) To
have one’s intestine cut.
# 'i
To be garrulous j talk too much.
♦
oi Jj j) bdSj I am pinched with hunger.
(Lit. ) My large intestine is eating my small intestine.
To tangle j be tangled j get snarled.
*the following } ;
E. E. Eveiy day brings its bread with it.
4r
Adversity. (Lit. ) A bad day.
UkM 4) jjj Good day to you ! Good-bye !-
To ruin or impoverish some one.
(Lit. ) To blacken his d ays ( Of time ) :
' ^ ■ ’ 2^ * .. :
c
iX.^1 Ray or gleam of hope. ( '^>J-> -is a window or
opening ;
Of To break one’s fast.
qjSj To fast ? observe a fast. ■ ^
JUAj*»^j To be acquitted. To* prove to be -innocent. To
be honoured. ( Lit. ) To come to have a white face.
To be disgraced i be put to shame. •
I To disgrace oneself.
(Lit. ) To bring about disgrace.
f- >
>4 1
(1) 'To face. To" look favourably.'^
(2) (/« card, pi aying^To show or declare.
JT Jj To plate or coat. To .veneer. ( Eiguratipely )-
To instigate i-use as a tool.
j.
“ 548 -
{ V^ith j\ } Xo refuse or reject. — JtT gt* 31
He sticks at nothing i nothing is too hot or
too heavy for him.
To he partial. ( Ut, ) To take ( i. e. res¬
pect ) faces.
^Lti Jj To abscond i hide oneself > ( lit. ) not show
one’s face.
^<XsJ tAJ 0 To tread on air r dance for joy » not contain
oneself for joy. {Lit.) Not be able to stand on one’s feet.
O^--^ To lay bare i dirulge. — >^*iJ •jtli iSjj |j - n-.
He let the cat out of the bag; he threw off all disguise.
'tT'*/ against , or outbid , some one.
) To beat above his hand. (Also Cr*^ ^ ^
u; l) \£jj The remarks are aimed at you. ( Lit. )
The Speech is facing you.
shout in; rend the air of. Example:
' (2) To tell out, as one’s ailments.
VO Slang) To rough one up the
wrong way. {Lit.) To cause a person to show his dog side.
“ .*-7^ , granted ; that is a cer¬
tainty. ( Lit. ) It is on its horns.
‘ «'• ■ —v..
I ^ or ,s a roller or small wheel ) .
To reduce to writing; commit to , or set
down in , writing.
cr^UI J^j{Ai) To reject some one’s request;
disappoint him ( Lti \ * j ^
the ground. ’ ’ ““
To veil oneself. (Lit, ) To cover An^’c /
OJ.^ J<>. To walk ( Of more) slowW m"a*'ch
•n slow time. ( Lit. ) To ride an ant. ""
. . . <r I don’t have the face to . . .
Altogeth^. One over the other.
m ^ On the average; on the whole
(V-* To click ; „i^__ , . _
- 549 -
off ( with ). Example : r** ^ To get off
with a girl.
sjs -O- 8^
To take great pains. (Elt,) To undergo mortifi¬
cation or asceticism.
^ ^
J Ci^) J spillage » waste y extravagance.
^ -O' O
To grumble or make sarcastic remarks
indirectly.
3^ -0- Sjg
To cause to stand in a queue > set in a file.
?!& -O' 5C^
J To put oneself in the power of another.
To leave a security or credit with some one. To give
one’s beard to a person.
O^J" iJiJ To unravel. To ulcerate.
His beard started to grow. ( Eigufatively )
1) He lost h is freshness or juvenile beauty. 2) It was no
more newi also ? it became commonplace.
grow a beard.
Sjr To pledge one’s honour {lit, beard ) .
JT *C1> j To strike ( or take ) root.
^ To Swell. To seem to be increased ? as rice after
boiling.
^ O
jO Bitterly. Exa?nple : ^j\y j\j
To kill cruelly i kill with torture.
To be on some one’s track* shadow him.
Note, The literal meaning of this phrase is ‘*to beat
some one s magpie with a stick ” » but the connection
is obscure.
To get baggy at the knees.
To kneel down i fall on one’s knees. {The Variant
means figuratively “ to yield or throw up the
sponge j also > be brought to bay ” } .
3 ^
0*^0? To keep silent. ( Lit, ) To tie
Up {or draw in) one’s tongue.
o c.*i(l ^Ji { Add the following'] :
Talking pays no toll.
0*^^ 0^0 To taste or lick.
Professional cant (also Conventional
language. ( Lit. ) The goldsmiths’ language'.
{Colloquial ) He stammers. {Lit,) His tongue
gets stuck.
I insisted on him very much. ( Lit, ) My
tongue started to grow hairs.
To spread* as a fire* fl am
,> [Colloquial] Clever
rough or coarse” j’.
e. ( ^'^3 is “a flame”} .
i nimble, (^3 means
( ^i^^g } Flimsy or phon(e)y.
-551 ~
To torment. To persecute.
To kill by slow and cruel torture. Cf,
To trouble » give trouble to > ( put to ) incon -
venience .
(^-T 0 w-c^ ■j Allow us to be excused, ( UK ) Let us
spare you trouble.
To (take) trouble » ‘take pains > be at pains.
^JT ^ (jA He spared me the trouble.
receive a wound.
A blow with a word.
To wound. To scratch.
OJli f*=^j
C.i-b j {Colloqtn al} He ran for president.
[Colloqi/ial ) He took to books.
^Ipc) {Slang] He took to his heels i he buzzed off.
* , 5 ^ ^
{Add the ioltoivhig] :
E. E. What the eye sees not ? the heart rues not.
•Al) J Collusion. — 0-3^ To collude.
Conflict i fight. - To fight.
o^j Cloyed j blase j surfeited (with pleasures i etc. ) .
{Used as a notai] A hole in a cloth.
{^^ Pale » yellowish.
-u o
^ J 'J } To thrum (on) .
^j\ J j {Colloquial ) Gaudiness.
t Col loquial ) Gaudy i garish.
-SS2
iu jU:* F. T. He who tries to be too
clever will Be cut off in his youth.
-O-
^ T*. To give the surplus
saffron to the ass (/. e, to be wasteful ) .
{Colloquial) To clatter i peep. To throb.
t } Gall and wormwood : said of a very bittei
thing and used as an abuse. {Origin doubtful)
To catch a cold in the head.
fj :;j iLod <r jr jjj jla s jf:;
( ) JjSit T. Give away the
poor-rate on thy property , for , when the gardener lops
off the overgrowth of the vine, it yields more grapes,
c. E. Make the vine poor , and it will make you rich.
C'aJ’ oKSi C ) Xo stare or glare.
sjt •» sjs
{Siting ) 1) Trinkets; frippery i knicknack.
2 ) Musical medley ; pot - pourri.
3 ^ «•
J ( Slang ) Hinging (of bells) ; chime.
sSt » O
To do homage. ( Lit. ) To kiss the ground.
Ci&Jji' {Originally ) jo fall ( down to the
ground. ( Figuratively ) To be overthrown.
[Originally To throw down. {Figura-
lively ) To overthrow.
[Originally To lay down. (Figufa-
lively ) Xo abandon .
(^-4? J To leave no stone unturned.
( . ) To sew heaven and earth together.
O SS8
-553
U . . . To pave {or prepare) the way for ...
$ *
0^ <r*^ c>j To take a wife t marry a woman.
0^ To take a wife for J marry.
. . . ,ab Long live. . . ! Up with. . . ! (Lit.) May. . . live !
oaJ.> To he animated or refreshed. (Lit,) To be restored.
o.a5J> To bury alive.
OhAij* (Cotnpound word^ Enjoying a green old age i halei
hearty. ( Lit. ) Having a living heart.
1) To rust. 2) To ring a bell.
^ cSH Small bells hanging from a coffin (/. e.
little children of an old man ) .
358 358
wCU ^yj { Bookish or poetical } Before long.
Be quick.
il' "O' $
jS’j To press. See also jsj
^ P. T. Force leads to destruc -
tion » money to damnation ( lit. hell ) .
{Slang} To cram or thrust with force.
To exert force. To endeavouri try hard. -
{ Colloquial } Have a try at it.
pjjy I cannot cope with him (in strength) i I am
not a match for him.
35g *
To settle a person’s hash > intimidate
him by severe measures. means “eye-poison”)
He poured out h is poison on me
(^. He served me out at last as he had planned ) .
To make disagreeable or bitter. ( Lit. ) To make
a poison of.
0^JP {Contemptuous expression for To eat.
( Lit. ) To change ( the food eaten ) to Snake’s poison .
See also
- 554 -
f ^Jit\ He wa9 frightened .to. death >-it made his
blood run cold j his hair stood on end. ( Lit. ) His gall¬
bladder was melted away. Cf. the next entity..
Of j.i' d)ly *^3 [ Same as »^T cri with
J ( burst ) ^of -Ai '.j) 'y
_ ' ' " ^ , W‘ '
0 ^^ j^J To strike with horror j freeze one’s blood>*
make one s blood run cold.
2^ * O
0^^ To peter out i back out > show the white '
feather. { Connected perhaps with. “ bowstring ” j in
which case -53 »3 would mean The string was cut ”}.
To string > as a bow. _ . * .
J ^ * X J ....
j {Compound slang) Done up i impotent. ^
^ { Slang ) He pegged out. ( Lit. ) His rim
came off {or was loosened ) .
_ \
^ ^T" f j\ It is more than can be counted.
Jo~ jl Excessively. ( Lit Exceeding the limit.
ji More than,i in excess of.
^ To go beyond due bonds i extravagate.
2^ s5?
V ^
O-^^r {In polite conversation) To meet. (L/7. ) To
visit as a pilgrim.' ' .
2Ss 2^ ■
\
0^*5 To be injured. To sustain { dr incur) a loss.' "
ith < } To hurt or injure. To cause to
sustain a loss.
J » . ^ ■
* 2^8 “ ‘ *
Tom J Dick > & Harry.
Lsote, ‘-‘:3 {Zeyd) and {Ainr) are typical proper names.
<s • - - -
To drain a pond.
{^^^^^g) To do away with a person by under¬
hand means > knife him. means vbidance "water). \
pressure. is a stake or stick to which
an animal’s halter is tied ) . ■ -
' I
■o J
- 555 -
To tolerate or accept something. (^/V.) To
be ready to carry the burden.
Jl) ^jlJ To give some one a leg up. {Lit, ) To
help him walk or fly by putting one’s hand under
his wing. •'*
Note. A variant replaces by J" armpit”,
b To trample or repress.
=.-1 He hasn’t got a firm leg to stand on
(he is uncreditable ) .
jlJ To seduce some one. ( Lit. ) To sit un¬
der his feet.
^ol l0(^ui al ^ Clandestine(ly) i Ld dcvobce.
^ J.:, To peep. ( Lit . ) To look f rom beneath
one’s eyes.
\Sjl^ To recalcitrate at ( Of against ) something. To
deny something. To throw something away.
jT To bury, (Figuratively) To outlive.
To burst into a laughter i burst out laughing,
^jlJ To subjugate. (Lit.) To put under one’s hand.
ootiT j.:, To d raw a person out. ( Lit . ) To draw
the flesh under one’s tongue.
T b pocket } swallow \ brook. (L//;)To
pass it from beneath one’s moustache.
d*j"* He or she has become insolent - and*
swollen-headed because of.having been pionuscd abetter
situation. ( Lit, ) His or her head has been raised.
jm jlJ To secure or prepare beforehand. ( Lit.) To
put under one’s head.
To overcome or suppress. {Lit. ) To put^undcr.
^ jtd To run over. ( Lit. ) To take under. F.x am pie :
The car ran over him. .
*0^^ jj To cry oneself to sleep. •( literally
means “ under ( i. while ) crying ” ) .
Sj SjiJ To turn upside down. To ransack or lununagc.
To turn upside down. I’o turn to chaos i
destroy completely .
To babble i talk nonsense. ( Lff. ) To chew
( ZPAzh ) - a variety of camelthorn which camels find too
tough to chew.
J { Slang } Collusicn \ covin.
^ To collude.
To prepare. To tune up. To begin.
To compound > make peace . To agree. To put
up. To collude.
0 * 5 To agree. To be wholesome or suitable. To be
compatible. To be sociable.
Equipment > accoutrement.
Owtjw To lapse. To cease to be valid. To be deprived
or bereaved. ( Lit. ) To fall.
la,9Lt To render null > invalidate. To deprive or be¬
reave. - hiU ^ ji Xq white.
c.-t <r^u \Add the following E.E.} •
April and May the keys of the year.
0«d't5 To parade ? pass review.
0^ To parade ( troops") i pass in review.
-S57-
4>L. He mounts ( or rides ) the high horse i
also . he is inaccessible. ( Lit. ) His shadow has become
■ heavy.
Um- iL# Thank you for your kindness or protection
( which I hope will never cease ) .
Note, The above phrase should never be literally
translated j lest it approach the E. phrase “ May your
shadow never grow less ! ’* » which means “ May you not
grow thin or lose flesh ! ”
To spring or germinate. ( Figuratively ) To be
generated spontaneously ; appear suddenly. { Lit . ) To
turn green.
grow. To germinate. ( Figuratively ) To con¬
firm. ( Lit. ) To colour or paint green.
To flatter or toady* curry favour with
some one. ( Lit . ) To clean herbs.
Note. From the above verbal phrase comes the
adjective which means ‘*a sycophant or flatter¬
er”, See the synonym cerv^
c > 5 fc m \With ji'} To get the start of* take precedence
of. To anticipate. To forestall.
{Often with To overtake and pass. Example:
! L> { Slang ^ Draw it mild. ( Lit. ) Come lightly or
Make it light.
To make light of. To despise. To observe un¬
ceremoniously.
To weigh in one’s hand. { Figuratively )
To weigh.
* O
Close together. ( Lit . ) With moustaches close to
each other.
{Colloquial } To be ( given ) free of charge.
-558 —
^^'JT To grease some one’^ palm {iff. moustache).
j^-iT ( Slang ) To give it to some one hot.
( Lit. ) To smoke one’s moustache.
(Si He huTig’his lip i he was discon¬
certed . ( Lit^ ) His moustache huhg down.
“To throw'up the sponge* cry
craven. To throw the shield. ' * • '*
-O' V., • L . . -
Qj<it To expire j he finished. . ^
‘ ' ■ 8^' d-
o-?U- Kara avts[\Lit\') The Canopus.’
( Poetic al } To lie awake all night. ( Lit, ) To
cottrit the stais. ’ ' ■ ‘ -
©U ©.^^r©^U*»t F. i. A dim sfar'cannot he com pared"-to
( lit, will not become) tlie moon.
Note, is colloquial for
[\^ith To press hard upon* urge. -
To he lenient.- See the next entry, .
OPS-* Take it easy. See the preceding entry, • .
-tJ-
“a- A hare suhsistence. («>•-> is the last hreath .of life*
and means blocking or closing'} . * j
tj \Xmi To perform' a Herculean task * cleanse
the Augean stables. , ^
Note. j-cc- -vw .means Alexander’s harrier
>*
re -
\ « ■ ■ * .i* *
ferred to in the Koran as having ' been -eretited by. him
^ k ^ I
to stem the advance of the Gogs and Magogsl
j**» To be all ears. ( ^ ^ ^ -cy, ) • '
jlj\jmt To slope or slant. To be turned upside down.
To come or fall down, To near completion.
^y** To know of . !
To trace or locate. -c- ■ -
^ ^j*^ {y^i^h 31} To inquire 'some one. /
- 559 -
f jm } To excel » attain perfection.
Also ? to come to an end ,
0 To Le entirely confused. {Lit.) Not to know
one’s head from one’s foot. -
j>»» P. P. The extra load will he put
on the meek or forbearing ass.
E, E, A willing horse is run to death.
jm ( With J\ ) To refuse to do » recalcitrate at
( or against ) . ( Lit, ) To turn away one’s head.
Collbqui al 3 To come to a fabulous amount.
i •
( Lit. ) To have its head reach hell.
To jpide {or run) as if one goes-to fetch a midwife.
C For 0-^^ -tt;) To pass or spend » also j live. ( Lit, ) To
carry the head (of one who has been beheaded ) .
Tractable i also > decent. ( Lit. ) With one’s head
directed to the road.
jiy, Humble > also > tractable. ( Lit. ) With one’s head
bent down.
(Same as 1.; etc. ) .
j? j*^ To fall down dead i drop dead. To sleep.
( Lit, ) To put one’s head on the ground.
Ijt^ In the nick of time. (Lit.) At the time or place
•r
when one should strike.
jm^jm To fool > or be funny » with some one.
( Lit, ) To put one’s head against another person’s head.
Tangled. At a loss, to understand i fogged. Cf.
To rise > attain a ( better ) social |>osition.
( Lit. ) To raise one’s head,
^ ^ To put out of the way > take on a one -
way ride. ( Lit. ) To cause to face annihilation.
Giddy. Playful. (Lit.) With one’s head toward the air.
-To go without supper. ( Lit.) To lay
down one’s head ( i, go’ to bed ) without supper.
An innocent person (iiP head).
.!•» Standing (on foot) . Out ,and abroad.
560 -
0*-^^ j"* I ) To disobey. To recalcitrate 'at.
( Lit, ) To turn one’s head from.
From head to foot. All over. All (used adverbially).
Example : All wrong.
Throughout > all over 1 across. (Lit, ) From one end
to the other.
sS *
t ) Obstinate j also > unreasonable.
*** *
To teach (some one ) his place i also >
snub him , or make him sing small. {Lit.) To cause (one)
to sit in his place. Cf. the next entry,
“U-sJ \S^ To draw in one’s horns i sing email »
receive a snub. ( Lit, ) To sit in one’s own place.
At the time when lamps are lit i at sunset,
lo health. In good spirits.
> Bore i also , gooseberry. ( Lit. ) The head of an ass,
* r r* A good riddance !
In good spirits (or humour ).
i^hort for Spontaneously. Without au-
thonty Or permission.
ostrich-like
s"ee tlTpvb. c?
To be disillusioned i look back.
rn t .K*** intransitive , and should not be
confused v,.»h (1^) ^ means (1) “to bring
a out ( another s ) death by one’s behaviour; (2) to
survive (a person )”. ' '
To slide .
i * i *®* 80. ( 2 ) To set afoot ; start .
(4)‘’to^/- r ®'’'* ( *®"*«‘»»ing ) to boot.
dIvo«“S ’ ""P"''"”- (SIT. „f,„
To bring one s head out of. also
j"» At a loss to understand. Astray. Tangled. C/. (*^ ^
~ ^To discourage or disspirit. To disil¬
lusion. ( Lit. ) To make cold ( or cool ) i refrigerate.
jM \Qompound word'] In good humour. Mellow : partly
intoxicated { also ) .
jm { Slang ^ To put off j put by.
^jm To be in a dilemma. ( Lit, ) To be
stuck ( or caught ) at the parting of the ways.
C--»J jm Straightforward » direct. Round ? as a sum.
^J"* downs i vicissitudes of life.
( Lit. ) The hot and cold things of the times.
jm To expose? as a child. {Lit.) To put on the way
jtti To arrive unexpectedly.
To boil over. To overflow. To go over again. ~
^ See on page 3 19.
O To die in labour. (^J extension ) To be lost or
misappropriated.
jmt To peep or shine. To pop ( or drop) in > { ivith ^ }
to call on. To be committed. To originate. To run in to ?
amount to.
\ jmt To intrude » come in unexpectedly or without
notice. Lt. ^
To die a natural dea th. ( Lit.) To carry
a living head to the grave.
Note. A variant form replaces by
i. e. a healthy head,
^,5 j^m jM To offer One’s head in devotion.
kSj*** To do perfunctorily,
k) To offer one’s condolences. {Lit.) To
say c*/*X-* i. e. May you be healthy.
( Compound adjective } In an angry mood.
( Lit. ) Having a heavy head.
To set on quarrelling with » or
36
opposing > some one. ( ) To come to grips with one*s
horns.
The night is young. ( hit. ) It is the Beginning
of the night.
jmJ jji jm He is eager or looks for
(such and such a thing) . Ex ample : \r ^
He is eager for the fray. (IJt,) He has a headache for...
j—! j** He abides by his
word ( or tells the truth ) even if he has to forfeit
his head .
jji jM He came to himself ( when it was rather
too late ) . {Lit.) He struck his head against a stone.
^jm He is in the know. ( Lit. ) His head is
in the affair.
I To knit up : close up or conclude.
See also
lP*j*** His head doesn’t belong
to himself (/. he is exceedingly generous or devoted ) .
j"* I ^olloquial } He doesn’t know ( how to do )
it '•> he doesn’t understand it — He is
blind to kindness.
{Colloquial) To be cheap and in great '
supply i go begging. ( Lit, ) To survive its owner. (The
idiom is perhaps used mostly by Iranian Jews )
To take one’s time over . ( Lit. ) To do
with patience.
^ To put on {or to ) one’s mettle i warm the
blood of. To rouse the jealousy of. To defy. ( Lit. ) To
bring round ( some one ) to his zeal or enthusiasm.
To bow down ( lit. bend one’s head ) in
deference . To submit. To truckle.
• **
To go to Stool i ease nature. ( Lit. ) To go
(or sit ) on one’s feet,
.j"* { Colloquial } To get one’s back up.
( i-/^. ) To fall on the hump. {Connection obscure)
To abide by, or stick to, one’s word.
To put up. To associate or mingle. To start
- 563 -
( ~ } . To wear on the head [ = 0^^ ^ } .
sjt * $
( ^olloqut al ^ To anaesthetize locally.
3^ * 3CS
To talk one’s head off. ( Lit, ) To carry
away one’s head.
See under
{Colloquial] {Sometimes
To take advantage of one’s absence. ( lit. ) To see one’s
head ( Of eye ) at a distance.
jL^ {Colloquial] To put some one out of
the way i take him on a one-way ride. ( Lit. ) To put
some one’s head under the water.
{ Colloquial } To play upon some
onei play a trick on him? make a game of him J dupe him.
(Lit. ) To rub syruji on some one’s head.
^ZMiSr" eMT" ^^**1 ( Colloquial ) To defraud some one.
( Lit. ) To put a hat on some one’s head.
To amuse or beguile some one.
{ means ** to warm ” } .
jm To drink off i quaff (off). To supervise or inspect,
ii){ Colloquial } To peep i look furtively .
( Lit. ) To thrust forward the small head.
{Colloquial] To taunt? reproach bitterly.
( Lit. ) To hit ( some one) on the head.
O ^
A> ( Archaic ) To have a vinegar countenance i
be sour-tempered. (Lit. ) To sell vinegar.
{iS-^] ii-i! <rjm
T. A head not intended for devotion to dear friends is a
heavy burden carried on the shoulders.
To loosen the purse strings ( lit, the
opening of the purse ) .
jM ( Colloqui al } To fleece ( of one’s money ) .
Note. This is perhaps i. e. to wash?
- 564 -
or shave » one^s head and rub his body » as is done by
rubbers in Turkish baths.
t Colloquial } To feel gay i be in ( good )
spirits. means “the effect of an intoxicating drug”} ,
o 0:1 y-r jm ( Add the following] ;
The phrase is often used to mean “ The best part of the
work is still left undone ” or “ The worst is behind ”
( in which case it is better (o say '^''1
/. e, the ox’s head is still in the jar } .
0**^ S^'^*** ® money-bags i he stinks of money.
( hit. ) He sits on a treasure - trove. (This is what ser¬
pents were believed to do } .
aib JU j*n T. If the head has no defi¬
nite owner » why talk of the hat ? ( Cited by way of
compliment in offering something } . Cf. the E. He that
has no head reeds no hat.
li) ^j)/ j*^ He talked my head off. See \j^^
..j"* {Colloquial] Intrepidity \ boldness, {hit.) A fear¬
less head.
inish hastily i also > to bungle .
{ hit. ) To join the ends of something together.
Sjt>* 1 cannot make head or tail of
what he says, {hit.) £ cannot understand the beginning
or end of what he says. Cf.
^ To make a rush for obtaining
something. {hit.)^o break heads and hands for somethirg
(that “sells like hot cakes ” ) .
^ j»t* {ColIoqiiiaJ } Noise. Fuss. Hue and cry.
To noise something abroad . “
\^j. I Hush it up !
JjMi To put into shape i settle i manage *> get
into shape. ( hit. ) To give a head and face to.
J Dealing. Intercourse. Liaison. Concern.
j"* To tire out oneself 1 as in explanations or
arguments » talk one’s head off.
Jj*>» To nose about ( or around ) i hang about)
snieli round i nose out a secret. ( hit. ) To water one’s
head and ears .
- 565 -
OtAlP SjA* 3 *Burst ing with health * in full bloom.
f . J-' C Colloquial } To botch \ bungle i tinker »
nail up i knock together. ( . ) To tie up together.
To patch up. To compose carelessly, {hit. ) To
join together.
-0 c-J juIj AJT ^C
iol }owiug E. E. ) ; Leave well alone.
Ifc .m c Colloquial'] To show up in society.
( Cit^ ) To introduce one’s head among others’ heads.
To order » place an order for.
To recoin me nd. \y^^ith To enjoin » instructs
charge.
3^ O
3 qS^ \Z^km ( Slaug } To play fast and
loose » veer and haul. ( Cit, ) To repeat saying i Loo¬
sen and tighten ” .
■£> 42 ^ Ij jS^ ( Add the follotviug E. E. }
He that travels far knows much. Also > travel makes a
wise man better ( » but a fool worse ) .
^jkm Next time, (^it.) Next journey or voyage,
c^l I^T j i c.*-l Jf*-^ ®^^^ table-cloth
without bread is a mere rag » just as a jug without water
is mere clay.
Colloquial ^ To rip up. To make a
table-cloth of (/. c', to spread or open ). -
To disembowel j or rip up the belly of j some one.
wUl 42^1^^) O Jt. { Col loquiai } He is abusive or
foul-mouthed from a child.
hlotes. ( 1 ) (3-* is a vulgar form of “ roof ” -
in this case “ the roof of the mouth. ” (2) The original
sense of this idion is based on the custom of separating the
- 566 -
jawfi of a new-born child » or “holding his palate in an
upward position ” . This was done simultaneously with
wishing for the child some good habit i as truthfulness >
honesty > etc. to accompany him through his life. The
phrase in question > therefore j amounts to saying that
such and such a person is so abusive by nature that one
would think that when his parents practised the custom
in his case they wished him to have a foul mouth.
palate is black ( His curses become
effective). See the preceding entry,
Ix&tf {saghat-) To founder or die? as a horse. {Slang
and derogatory } To stop dead ? break one’s neck.
( For ] To miscarry. { Lit. ) To cast
off ( a child ) .
^ -G- 3^
{saghat~) To use bad language ? revile. {Bookish).
To stumble or trip.
To be coined. {Lit,) To receive the stamp of a die.
To coin or mint.
Mammonist. {Lit.) Numismatist.
wS- ( Compound word ) Used to drudgery *? plodding ?
indefatigable. {Lit.) Having a dog’s life.
Spoiled or wasted. (Lit.) Eaten by a dog.
{ Col loqu ial } To loaf ? idle away one’s time.
{Lit.) To beat a dog? or else? live or act as a dog.
* {Add the following E. E. } .*
( d ) The devil is good to his own,
^ • His dog is better than himself.
C A jocular or iionical way of praising someone. } .
*01^ (-^ ) F. T. What ! a dog and a house !
( It it strange for a dog to have a house —cited in
similar instances ) ,
-S67-
$ (<JU5w) 0 <r) He never dares (to do such
and such a thing ) . F. T, He is no great man’s dog ( to
he able to do such and such a thing ) .
<> ^ j F. T. It would be better if the
dog went hungry •> the magpie became blind i and the
goat remained thin. Ct^
r
J
jr^
^ o ^
of j {^Coi / To Swagger or strut » walk
slowly and boastingly .
^ o
{ Slang ) To shell out. ( Fit, ) To cough - vulgar
form of .
<f 'fy
—<qm«) To be in a state of aspiration or mouth *-
watering i be deprived of a { specified ) pleasure.
{ Lit, ) To suck sumac(h) .
^ o ^
^ jy\$ She has eaten the hoof of a mule. (This
means that she is barren as a mule — a derogatory remark).
[^Slang'] To bungle or botch.
jjj He has a strong piston (/. he is irre¬
sistible because he is supported by a strong person ) .
o <x-J ( Add the following ) ;
Cf. the E. Fli es go to lean horses .
S <2s*-fjuf Ijl^ Has he thrown a stone in God’s
river ? (A jocular way of saying > “ He has committed
no gross crime ” ) .
v::-* ( Add the follow in g } =
E, E, (a) Great promise > small performance, (b) He that
promises too much means nothing.
Via Very cheeky or impudent. { Lit, ) Like
pumice-stones from Ghazvin.
,Sj\ J (j,^) To perform a duty faithfully i
-S68-
givc full measure. ( Lit. ) To put the full weight in
the scale. Cf. 1.^
To strike a blow for something. {Lit.)
To beat one’s breast with a stone for something.
^To hold on to an invalid or
unproved argument > not have a leg to stand on. ( Lit. )
To distrain upon Aunt Frog’s stone.
JT To pull the legs of (a person ) by offering him
an exaggerated price for his commodity . ( Lit, ) To
kick or fling > as a stone ( doubtful ).
(3^ T, To drive an unsteady stone into the
ground ( /. show oneself too lenient i also » commit
oneself easily ) .
c
C#( Slang } ( At ) some unknown date.
Notes. (1) ^ in Arabic means ‘ a century ’ » and
is the slang element of the phrase > which has been
used to designate an unknown date. ( 2 ) A variant form
replaces ^ by J**' which ? in Turkish means ‘ year ’ » and
is used in names of the Turkish cycle of years.
{Jocular way of sayingj} ** Such a one
is illiterate”. {Lit.) Such a one’s knowledge (of reading
and writing ) has been damaged by moisture.
O * sS?
To go on Shanks’s mare. ( Lit. ) To
ride the dirt road.
To embark upon a business j also > be in¬
stalled or skilled in it. ( Lit. ) To ride (on) a business.
^ To cause to ride. To mount. To take on board.
To pick up. ( Figuf atively ) To assemble or erect.
To rule or exploit some one » have a hold
upon him. ( Lit. ) To ride some one.
* o^L) jl See j\ etc. on page 571.
To exploit some one. ( Lit. ) To ride
some one’s back .
To allow mounting.—
-569
This horse is a good mount.
c^mt {With 31} To take advantage of (in an ill
sense j * trade on j presume upon . To abuse or misuse
( lit. sense ) .
©ii JU-* To ply
with questions.
< 3 - 3 ^
with questions. ( , )
^
To wrap up
Of jjwU-lT”To (blow a) whistle.
{Colloquial'] To throw (a ball) too high up and
lose sight of it i throw out of bounds.
2^ •£> 3^8
To be written off > as a bad debt i be
irrecoverable. ( L.it. ) To be consumed or burnt.
3^8 O 3^8
V-' ^ ( Si ang } Nook and corner.
Of To feast (oneself) i enjoy a feast »
play a good knife and fork.
Heartache. Mental vexation. Compassion. Spite.
Q^ j To smart.
^ o ^
To prick with a needle. {Intratisitively] To have
a shot ( /. injection ) .
3 ^ * ^
{ Colloquial } To flicker.
Q^jjy To put a Spoke in one’s wheel. To inter¬
pose difficulties.
Note, is a flaw > a serration (in a blade) > etc.
To make mischief -
l^ote. means “ to cause to run”> and see
in the preceding entry.
JC8 <3- 2^
JUI^To take an oath i swear.
JUPTo administer an oath to i put ( some one ) on
his oath i swear.
-570-
Note. ^ is more often used in colloquial Persian
than
^ ^
{ Colloquial } 1 ) It is as sure as a gun »
there is not a shadow of doubt in it. 2 ) No margin is
allowed for it. ( ) It doesn’t allow of being rasped
( any more ) .
JT To take (it) easy. To slight > make light of,
P, l\ It is the miller who makes a mis*
take in reckoning. (Said by one who denies having
made an error } .
Note. A variant form substitutes for
sfig * 25s
0.^0 dL^tw ( Col loqutal } Dark - coloured » melanoid .
( Pit. ) Black pan.
j{ ) Ij i^ah) J Not know chalk from
cheese 1 be illiterate. [Lit.) Not to tell black from white.
? ^5** < Who goes there 7 [Lit, ) O black one !
Who art thou ?
Mere numbers » noses i multitude. [Lit.) What
makes the army look black.
252 *0 ^
j Nerveless or cowardly ( person) . ( Lit. ) Potato.
252 < 5 * 258
sXiy ^^■^*4**' apple not influenced
by the Canopus will remain pale. ^Referring to the impor¬
tance of punishment or chastisement } .
Note, Since Canopus appears only in the month of
October » ( See ) it was believed that apples
and some other fruits attain perfection about that time
under the influence of this star.
goad or prod { in this sense also J .
To give a shove off (to) . To stir (by a poker) .
Note. means a skewer or spit » a poker > a
broach i a prod J etc.
-571-
-£}■ ^ {^Add the iallowing\ :
c. He whose belly is full believes not him that is fasting.
idJiwO { Slang } He cannot be satisfied » he is insati¬
able or greedy.
F, T, We shall be honoured if
you have enough. ( Said to a guest at table).
*“ 4 ^*^ {Col loquial'\ Never in (all) my life. ( f-//, ) (In)
thirty years.
To experience a hardship. ( Lit, ) To
receive a slap from Fortune.
3^ -a- 2^^
To be infected by exposure to cold weather,
<1^ To beat one’s breast.
To take up the cudgels. ( Lit, ) To make a
shield of one’s breast.
To clear the throat {lit, the chest) » hem j
hum and ha(w) i hawk.
jaj JU To creep or crawl. To glide.
^
{Slang} To be struck ( or knocked ) all of a
heap. ( Lit, ) To have a horn grow on one’s head.
{Colloqai a 1} To come to grips » also?
set on quarrelling with i or opposing i some one. ( Lit, )
To strike one’s horns against those of another person.
^ Ij {Coll oquial} To cease babbling or bothering.
( Lit, ) To remove the cupping-glass.
To break or train ( a horse ) . {Lit,) To break
its horns.
-S72-
jjUir«OU To bully some one. (Z-'/.) To thrust one’s
horns and shoulders forward.
J ( Slang ) Fuss i bluster.
To pass the night in darkness. To do
as the strangers did on the night ( after the disastrous
event of Karbela ) .
Vl> To shrug the shoulders.
q^jJT ^ 4iUi ( With jl } To shirk or avoid. To crave
at. { hit. ) To empty one’s shoulders.
JU5C*a 6.^U \j oIm T. He causes the king to dismount
his horse ( i. c\ He is so foul-mouthed that he causes. . . )
Good night. Alsoi good evening. means “welfare”).
Good night. Good-bye, (hit.) May you have
a good night.
JUC^ T. Besides > every Tuesday
night it falls in a fit. { Said ironically by a shopkeeper
when his customer enumerates the faults of a commodity).
To represent a drama \ dramatize.
To play the part of some one.
pMT To have a thorn in one’s side (or flesh).
(hit,) To have a louse in one’s hat.
-o fci.*-) C following E. E. } ;
(c) He thinks his halfpenny good silver.
* 5 C following ) ;
E. E, Say you saw me not.
<9Mc <J h j2l F. T, Why l a camel and passemen-
tetie ? (/, e, a camel cannot be tied with trimmings of lace).
All is quiet (again) V nothing doing, (hit.) The
camel has been killed, ( Referring to the camel which
was killed in the Feast of Sacrifices in presence of thou¬
sands of people) .
— S73-
jlf* j:! ^Cotnpoufid word'} Medley; hotchpot(ch ) ;
mixture of incongruous things. ( Camelopard.
jzt {Compound word} Contrarieties ; i ncongruous state-
ments. (Lit.) Camel-cat. Cf. jlT
Detailed description {or commentary).
No^e, ( kas hsh^i ) j which originally means
“ a discoverer or explorer ” » is the title of a famous
commentary on the Koran by 7. am akhshuri.
} To murmer or purl i as water.
{Colloquial } To flow or fall j as water.
f^ote, is ( the noise of ) flowing or falling
water ? also > a freshet.
<r
V© We had to take the consequences. ( I^it , )
The evil (arising from such and such an act) involved us.
jtU Justice {or equity) forbids. {Lit,) It is not
a condition of justice.
jF"j> kAMl) ip jm I bet you {or guarantee that) he will return,
ip jm To bet ; lay a wager {or bet ) .
^To make ( it ) a condition ; stipulate i lay down.
To guarantee or undertake.
O ’^To d amage a person’s character or reputation;
libel or slander him ; cast aspersions on his character.
( L,it. ) To take away his honour .
J *{sherrover) {Slang} Balderdash ; rigmarole.
Note. Very possibly ^ and are contractions of
and “ poetry and incantation ” respectively.
jJm A littlc bird told me so. ( /-//. ) My thumb
was informed. Ci. the Pr. Mon petit doigt me I’a dit.
-S74-
Slang"} To pay (one) out well. ( To wash.
sjg <}■ 2 ^
J Neat i ship - shape i tidy* unconfused ; explicit.
(Lit,) Washed and swept.
2S8 * *
Herculean task. (Lit,) Splitting of the moon.
sS * 2S8
jK-i {Colloq aial} To be upset or disconcerted, (Lit,) To
be hunted .
Estrangement » coolness. Exajnple : 1
c—I ) There is an estrangement between them.
Fragmentary. ( Lit, ) Broken ( and ) tied.
<U^Ci To be weighed ( or broken) down, ( Lit,) To be
broken.
To humiliate oneself. To forbear from
making pretensions. ( Lit, ) To break oneself.
( Colloqui ) To make mouths ( at some
one ) j pull a wry face.
O*^'^ [Colloq/u al} To nourish the hope
of a feast or whet one’s appetite. ( Lit, ) To soap one’s
belly (/’. e, prepare it for a feast) . ( Cf, the E, “ soap ”
which means figuratively “ flatter ” . )
To sag. To bulge. (Lit,) To give forth a belly.
{ Colloquial } His bowels do not move.
( Lit,) His belly or stomach doesn’t operate.
{^Colloquial} To play a good knife
and fork i do justice to a meal.
^Note, This idiom is based on the custom of >^-^3*
which means literally “ to bring (some one)
®^t of his mourning . This is done with certain forma™
lities by the relatives of a bereaved person at the end of
the year which has marked his mourning. Amongst other
formalities the bereaved is made to wear new clothes by
-sts-
his relatives^ who offer him the necessary stuff for these
do >hes .
the phrase in (question one’s helly is supposed
to have been in mourning > and to have had no food for
a long time. Hence j the need for “ bringing it out of
mourning ” .
{ Colloquial } Knockabout j durable i tough.
* ) Capable of being whipped.
\S^o^^oquial'^ At full drive \ post-haste. Using
the whip.
{ Colloquial ) Slovenly > slip-shod i untidy.
To relax one’s efforts .
^yrc.A -1 J {Same as o^jjT j:> ->
To be lenient or tolerant. { i^//. ) To hold ( it )
loosely. Cf.
{Sla/2g'} Higgledy-piggledy? confused. {Contrac¬
tion of “ pottage of turnip ” ) .
Vig^iiTo stride. {Also a
{ Slaf7g } Disorderly or crowded. { Used as
a 720un } Confusion » babel ? bustle.
3^^ To make ( much ) noise. To riot i disturb pub¬
lic peace.
<s
He has got the upper hand ( now ) i
and will stop at nothing ? he is uncontrollable. ( Ult. )
( Even ) Shemr will not serve as his herald ( of will not
control him ) .
Moles, 1) Shemr was the general who slew E 222 a 222 -
Hossein. 2 ) The phrase could also be taken to mean
“He out-herods Herod ” .
To shore up i support by a shore.
(o)jjiJi ( See helotu ) .
A very small sum i nothing to shout about.
Nofes, (1) jU , which is pronounced sbender' ^
gbaZ ( with the stress on the second syllable ) > is often
used as an attributive adjective for (salary) » or the
like : Example • ^ 31^ ( 2 ) or •j-ca jg
a slang word meaning “a rag’S but has been used here to
qualify 3^^ — a money of account worth 1. 2 5 dinars,
^ o ^
jUO Joking apart.
^ 2 ^ 0 ) I Op- .31 1j To carry
a joke too far (lit. cause it to go out of bounds ? or
make it serious ) .
jtti To be fervent or passionate. To be full of
emotions. ( Lit. ) To have a sensation in one’s head.
{^sed in i. e. I am anxious or uneasy
( about it )} .
1 To go too far j be outrageous in one’s
conduct.
Note. This may be connected in meaning with the
adjective nature of the word i, e. “ salty or brackish”*
in which case the idea is to make something too salty >
or to bring the salt part of it out. However » is also
a noun meaning “ sensation or emotion ” .
To give ( a girl ) in marriage, (Figuratively) To
give away » lose.
<r ^.;1^ ^There is a rumour that.
_ _ , *
Teep- show. (Lit.) European city. (Figuratively)
Omnium gat her u m \ medley.
Note. The phrase >1 c—1 *±S^ ^
is an extension of the above and means “ This is Europe
(or a European city ) where there are all sorts of things
or persons ” .
i^l^f^g) A place where there is no law or
justice » also » a babel or scene of confusion.
-577
land of the one-
eyed make yourself one-eyed, Cf. etc,
E, E, When you are in Rome i do as the Romans do.
^bXjM C*^ \Colloquial'^ To be crushed or mashed. To become
squashy > as fruit. To (be) spread out.
A)A Sheikh wearing small bells on his ankles
( # %
/. e, a hypocrite or a prudish person ) .
l^ote. The bells are intended to scare ants ? so that
they are not trodden on by the walker.
To slip away {or off) > make oneself
scarce . ( This may be based on an anecdote ) not known
to me » about a Sheikh ) .
Cardboard cavalier i man of straw. ( Eit, ) Lion
made of snow. C/. rl*»- .>•>
To brave. ( EH, ) To make a lion of.
b jrj« Head or tail. Toss up. {EH,) Lion or inscription.
Of JtJ^ To give birth to another
child before weaning the one who is being nursed.
press the juice from i or out of >
something.
^i-UAT' Ijrj-J' To sap or exhaust ( the vigour of ) some
one 9 also > bleed him white.
^ ^
To be in demand i have a good market.
( EH. ) To become sweet.
\^Used adjectivally ) Naughty. { EH, ) Satan.
To have a nocturnal pollution. (Eit. ) To be
subject to the Devil’s deceit.
4t*^i, {^Compound adjective'} Over-precautions about
one’s life. ( Eit, ) Whose life is (brittle as) glass.
A.JLj ^ Slang} A nigger in the woodpile (or fence).
3 7
( Colloquial ) To shave. ( Lit, ) To smooth
{ often <-»><» j oU» J
OwU5' J Frankly 1 in plain words. ( Lit, ) Smooth
and shelled ( or peeled ) .
25? *
{Colloquial'} Early in the morning; at dawn.
L^i Good morning.
25t 25 ?
There is a sneeze » so we must make a pause.
( Superstitious belief ) ,
Note, originally means “patience ” ,
To take a morning draught.
251 -Ci- 858
I wish you a good health.
(Said to one who has just had a bath } .
I hope you have had a sound sleep.
258 o sS?
OifowtiU) Why » you don’t happen to be in a desert.
( Said to a guest who is going to leave his host although
night has fallen? in order to make him abandon the idea}.
25 ? .tJ 258
One could hardly hear himself out
{ there was too much noise ) .
They complained or grumbled; they showed
discontent. ( Lit^ ) Their noise was heard,
258 -0-858
j oMr ij JiSJmp {Same as ij ^
etc, Ufith “ hald man ” for heads ” )
2 ^ •£> 2^
-S79-
Frankness. (L/7. ) Explicit tone. - L
Frankly.
{ Used as follows ) : (1) j\ To dispense
with? or forget} gradually. ( 2 ) j1 To cause
to dispense with or forget. (3) To set think-
ing 9 put it in the mind of.
To criticize. ( Lit. ) (1) To test or ring coins.
(2) To be a money - changer > do banking.
O ■» 8>
O^.S' 'Sjtff To eat or drink j take. ( Lit. ) To spend
;.i jii Apart from » irrespective of.
O'^J^ 31 ) To dispense with. To waive or
relinquish j abandon or disregard.
* 2^
To line up. To queue up.
258
To have a good time > enjoy oneself.
^ 258-0-258
{^Slar2g) To spin a (long) yarn, (Lil.) To put
a record (on the gramophone.)
258-0-258
0 mm C ^
Of ji One who is faithful to
secrets. (Often used in the phrase '^l ->1^1 <.i--
My chest is a box in which secrets can be kept}.
258-0- 2^
*
following F. E. } ;
Each bird loves to hear himself sing.
25? <3- 25?
It will not look nice or decent.
( L//. ) It will not have a good face.
To accomplish or perform. To render an account.
To give a bill.
To be accomplished. To be realised.
- 580 -
To be disgraced. To lose entirely .
its value or credit. ( Lit, ) To assume the shape of a
( black ) penny.
o followhig} ;
E, E. The eagle does not catch flies.
A guarantor who is required to pay at
any moment whether the original debtor declines or is
ready to pay. {Lit,) Guarantor ready to pay from his purse.
To become a by-word ( lit, proverb ) .
8^8 < 3 -
To cause a loss to one’s heir (». be prof¬
ligate or lavish of money ) .
Loss caused by want of money, the E,
Money is oft lost for want of money.
{S^j^ There is no harm in it.
( k ) jS uiai? To swoon or faint i fall into a fit. —
j ayjj pinched with hunger i I am starving.
To be protected by sanctions.
To stand guarantor for
8^ -O' ^8
some one.
J,
jlt? To lie on the back j lie in a supine positi n.
2^ -CJ- ^
1 (have) lost patience> my patienc' is exhausted.
Mo^e. A variant form of this phrase gives
t.e. My patience reached its utmost limit
(lit, ceiling ) .
^:i(aryu To put on airs and refuse to grant a re¬
quest ? put one^s talent in a napkin? be high and mighty.
I^ote^ The literal meaning of jg “to
put on the upper shelf ” . The direct object of the verb
is apparently Oj^ ‘^bottom” or “anus”? the whole phrase?
meaning freely “ to sit on the upper shelf”.
To tell fortunes. To cast a horoscope.
3^8 <}• 8^
Propensity to mix with all sorts of people ?
and especially with both sexes. Nature or property
like that of < purgative manna.’
Note. Purgative manna is supposed to be harmless ?
and agreeable with all temperaments.
jT <L^ To come off. To sag.
>.5. Ja
E, E. Joy surfeited turns to sorrow.
E, T. Joy depresses one when it exceeds its bounds.
858 -O- 3^8
project or plan. To propose* set forth? pro¬
pound. To draw or sketch.
- 582 -
^ Party to a (law)suit.
iyS9jP fjuS' ^ To take some one’s part.
V'Ka , J> Correspondent.
To speak ironicallyi say one thing and mean another.
{ Wi^h o, ) To taunt or reproach.
To revolt or rebel. To rage. [Of a river ) To
overflow its banks.
To elude \ evade ; dodge > shift.
^Ly To be spell - bound. To become inextricable
( sometimes r-^) • _ c-xa ^1. xhe knot is untied;
things are cleared .
To spell j cast a spell on. [ Intransitively To
practise witchcraft.
858 * $
0^1jl 8*'"® '^P ^ope.
C ^^ith <1 } To have views upon J covet i have
an eye on.
To covet. To be covetous.
-( <uU E, E. Covetousness is the mother of
ruin and mischief.
T, Covetousness brings untimely death.
To hang ( a person ) .
. 85? O xjg
To ring or tinkle. To resound. [Often jl-*'lOu^J .
T T » ^ O
\s.jy Nolens volens i whether one wishes or not.
85? 85§
.3j^ T. The cursed necklace ( /. e. the nuptial
knot of marriage ) . - o:.l o> He or she was
deprived of single Blessedness.
-ft sSs
Jj-y To protract or prolong. To be long in doing
• something ) i take a long time to do (it).
-583-
To take ( time ) . Example : J>-^ j-> It
took two years.
<y* hA*ir* Before long.
<rSoon after.
^J" oyl^ To wash oneself after easing nature.
To settle upon i fix ( the price of something ) .
To go or travel through i traverse.
8^ iJ-
Good will. — ^U- With a good will or mind »
of one’s own free will.
Superficial observer.
Simulation.
To cause to appear. To develop > as a film.
J To be unjust to i do injustice to. To oppress.
O^j^, t ) To be suspicious of.
j-p-lc To bring to bay.
To disable.
To harass. To argue down.
o^U To accustom or habituate.
To get the habit ( to ) > fall into the habit (of).
To scorn. To disdain. Example: (a)
He disdains to talk with me. ( b )
cP^ £,.?->-> ( Bookish ) I scorn to lie.
O «•
584 -
To go to law > bring an action (against some one).
To start ( on a journey) . — •*” 1 He left
for Abadan.
To fall in love. Example : jl He fell
in love with her.
^i,Am ( Colloqu i al ) To be put out of patience by
harassment. ( Lit. ) To sin or rebel.
wtslb 1) (God) bless you. 2) I wish you good health
( said to one who has had a bath } .
To be cursed by one’s parents for disobedience.
8^ * 8S8
4iLi*dU T. A wise man will not take as
fable what is said by people.
E. E. ( Same as for ^ 31 etc, )
o $
To take an example or lesson.
8^8 O 8^8
lame rogue. ( Lit. ) Lame Osms^n,
Note, Os matt ig a typical name.
O'iTo deviate or swerve. — Jj*^ 31 To
go back on one’s word > revoke one’s promise.
O * 8^
^ jfcic To offer an excuse.
eUr jl ^ wi) ^jSc A lame or pitiful excuse. {Lit.) An excuse
worse than the sin ( committed ) .
C To apologize '» ask pardon j excuse oneself. —
j j,eg your pardon i I am not in a position to
do that.
C^l He is excused 1 he has offered his excuse.
He is not to blame ( ironical } ,
^ac To discharge a person 7 fiend him packing.
Cf. 1^*-
-585 -
u&J A lame excuse. { Rare )
85? -O'
( 4 ^ 45 ^ -) To brawl from drunkenness.
85 ? * 858
To say {/w polite conversation'} ,
O To damage one’s reputation »
disgrace upon oneself.
25? * 35?
Bring
\3j^ To shell out i psy’ a Bribe, {^i^,) To perspire.
ijfyS" To put some one to the Blush.
( Lit. ) To cause some one to petspire.
^ * 258
^ Bride who is highly
commended will turn out a slut. ( Said when,a person or
thing turns out to Be contrary to one’s expectations } .
^C»Ao P> T. If the Bride
has four petticoats ) it must Be taken into consideration
that she has also Big posteriors. {Th is means that we are
not concerned with other people’s properties j since they
have a use for what they own.} .
ji C Compound word} Flimsy t gimcrack. {Lit, )
That can endure only as long as the Bride, goes to the
Baths and comes Back.
8^ 85?
jC, Mere tool > cat’s - paw. { Lit. ) Little doll
( dancing ) Before the kettledrum.
858 * 258
To throw oneself at some one’s
feet) cry to him i implore or Beseech him.
85? -O' 258
Self - admiring or overweening person » prig-
(Lit. ) One who unduly thinks he should Be esteemed or
endeared By others.
jlj^ [Compound word } ( Spoiled ) darling » unique
child who has Been spoiled. (Lit,) Single precious pearl.
2 > 85?
-586-
The humour took him » he just fancied it.
( ) Fancy ( or love) attracted him.
The prop ( of stay ) of one’s age > also j son
worthy of his father. (Lit.) A cane used in old age.
2 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
To remain ( Of lag) Behind. To be deferred.
To postpone. To retard.
i^aC To set back » as a clock.
To push (or keep) back. To withdraw,
sit'ively) To retreat. To recoil.
■■
w-Sc To pursue. To chase.
^ sj^aC To send for some one.
To draw back. To withdraw. { Intf ansitiveiy }
To retreat. To flinch .
To leave behind. To outpace or outstrip.
^ ^8 -O- 2^
oJiC ( Bookish } To get a thing off one’s chest >
relieve one’s heart i unbosom oneself.
Cr cJaC T. Change your wit or reason ( /. e. Don’t
be silly j think better ) .
y He was at his wit’s end.
h) wCamjU He is a button short j he is
half-witted. (Lit.) His wit (or reason) needs a makeweight.
He is weak in the upper storey i he is half¬
witted. ( hit. ) His wit is round.
kAd ^^XaC It is beyond his wit (or mind) j he is out
of his depth. (Lit.) His wit is not deep enough.
To throw dust in some one’s eyes i hood-
.wink or blindfold him. ( Lit. ) To steal one’s wits .
T. Men’s wits are in their eyes
( they usually judge by appearances ) .
ofj J? To keck or retch. ( and
suggest the sound of one who tries to vomit}
587 -
To come to nothing. (L/7. ) To he left abortive.
A M » h A Embryo and foetus, ( Figuratively ) A de¬
formed Or misshaped person or creature i also* an over¬
weening but mean person.
sS? * O
faultfinder or nagger » a fussy person.
( From the story of one Ali who found fault with » and
took exception to > anything that was done by his wife) .
^ 5 ^ In spite of '■> in the teeth of.
Against ? con(tra) .
20? 2^
A new lease of life. (Lit. ) A second life.
2^
Ill-tempered or crabbed person.
Note. ^ Omar , son of Sa^d , is a historical
figure in the tragedy of Karbela. By his order Shemr
slew Emam - Hossein.
2^ -CJ- 2^2
He passed away J he died. (Lit. ) He gave
his life to you.
His life failed him.
Methuselah’s life = very long life. (Lit.) Noah’s life.
2^ O 2?
To produce or manufacture.
{The intransitive would be ^jJuT^J^kC T
To be raised or produced. To grow } .
To do or act j practise. To operate. To Inove j as
the bowels.
45 !*^ {^Colloquial } Addicted to smoking opium.
( Lit, ) 1 ) Artificial. 2 ) Practicable.
Dear fellow > good fellow. ( Lit. ) Dear uncle.
2^2 -& 2 ^?
Slatlg ) To show flippant moods > also > act
coquettishly. Cf.
2^ 2^2
- 588 -
^ Time immemorial. ( J-^it, ) Time of Father
Adam. — f-^T 31 From time immemorial i since the
world was made.
ime immemoria 1. ( Lit, ) Time ( or reign )
of Decius.
A variant form is ‘h- where *1^
( King Vezvezak ) is a meaningless > typical name.
Of cr^ [^W^ith 31} To find fault with? cavil.
There is no harm in it. It doesn’t matter. It is
all right ? it is in order.
( 4.00 ) tX^C Happy New Year. ( Lit. ) May your
festival he blessed.
J Feasting and drinking ? luxury i pleasure.
^ o ^
.(JJ^ [Colloquial } He doesn’t care a fig ( for
it) ? he doesn’t bother {lit, think ) about it.
( eynohoo ) ( Colloquial } Exactly. ( Lit, ) The thing
itself V the original ( thing ) .
J" A Make a sieve out of it. { Reply to one who
says “It is little or insufficient ” ( when he
is given something.
Note. Since means also » in its substantive use?
“ the rim of a sieve ? wheel ? etc. ” » the reply “ Make
a sieve out of it ” amounts virtually to a pun on words.
Little knowing that ? unaware of the fact that.
To deceive the vigilance of. To keep unaware.
^9/* jau To surprise ? seize unawares.
- 589 -
OA / To surprise j come upon unawares.
sS *
ijJuT .Jlc Of \y^ith To prevail upon or over.
To overcome or defeat.
25: 2^8
To move the hips or loins in dancing. {Colloquial'}
To have coquettish gestures.
2^ * 2^
{Colloquial'] To grumble. {Slang] To entice away*
pinch Or pick up i as a woman.
2^8 O-
jt* To contract hernia. To be depressed or sunk.
25: * 2^8
1;} To bear (one) a grudge i have a spite
against ( some one ) •
^ To bear or entertain a grudge. To show par -
tiality. ( Also JT )
2^ <3- 2^
jT [ Colloquial } To grumble.
2^ * 2^8
Drowned {used as follows]:
oljUuil 3^ Laden with honours. — 3^ Absorbed in
thinking. — 3j^ Plunged in debt.
2^ * 2^8
Pride or impetuosity of youth. {J^^ old medical
terminology ) Acne.
2^ * 2S8
{ Colloquial } To grumble.
2^ 2^
say goodbye* prepare for going.
( L>it. ) To sing the farewell song.
2^ * 2^
JS "To swoon • faint i fall into a fit. -
He was transported with joy » he could not contain him -
self for joy. - To be dying for some¬
thing* be crazy about (or over) it.
2S8 * 2^8
To grieve * be grieved > become sorrowful >
worry { also ^} .
-S90-
yzJ^ Of cJUc To neglect.
^ [^Slang'} To draw in one’s horns. (Lit.) To sheathe.
Of ^julald [Colloquial ) To shell out i have to pay
or spend. ( Lit, ) To roll or welter.
[Colloquial'j To roll : said of a ball > etc.
Colloquial ) To roll » as a ball ? etc.
To bubble or boil.
2^ 2^
To tickle.
Of 4 A)T^ He is ticklish.
J* To exaggerate i exceed bounds.
2^ o 2^
To grieve » be grieved. To worry.
^ To care for some one » also > sympathize
with him.
There is no cause for worry.
y To look after some one (with tender care).
2^8 * 2^
\y^ith jl) To connive at.
To purse i as one’s lips, [lutf ansitiv€ly'\ To
bud r put forth buds (also Cr-^, & O-^.) } .
2^8 O 2^
or To make the most of i avail
oneself of i not let escape. (Lit.) To consider as a booty.
2^8 * 2^8
t To go deep into ? study profoundly •
penetrate.
2^8 O 2^
07 ^ {Slang'] To talk through one’s hat 1 talk
big t bluff.
( Colloquial } To swallow.
258 -CJ- 2^
[^olloquial'j To shed forced tears. To
- 591 -
weep for no good reason. ( Lit:) To press unripe grapes.
O*^*^*^^ To plunge » dive j duck.
<yjt To plunge ; cause to dive. To immerse.
To dive ( figurative same ) ; penetrate.
To raise a disturbance ; kick up a rowi
make a scene. To quarrel.
rough or foolish giant. (Lit.) A hornless
and tailless ghoul.
2C1 O sS
0 *-^ To vanish or disappear.
( Colloquial ) He slipped off i he disappeared.
To foretell events > divine.
{ Vf^ith 31 } To backbite.
ia*C To feel indignant J get angry. Also 5 to sulk.
lJ
4^1—0 To recite the opening chapter of
the Koran for a dead person’s soul. — o*** 1,^
Not to pay any attention to some one.
To knell the downfall or end of some-
thing^ ring the knell of something. Cf, the preceding entry .
O*^ To be delivered (of a child ) . To get through.
To become free.
4L^ld To space.
<La[B
To leave a space or blank.
To keep aloof.
3 ^ To split.
- 592 -
To lack or miss something. Example :
03 *^ He lacks necessary qualifications i he is
disqualified.
Sfig ^
To tell fortunes or have one’s fortune told.
To consult a book. To divine by playing-cards? etc.
Jt To derive a benefit or advantage ? avail oneself.
To make a profit .
oJoU To be useful or efficacious.
ijiji eJU(i It is useless > it is of no avail.
0-1 “ .jO rj ” '*1^. “ ^ ’ ’ As soon as he starts to
speak y I know what he is driving at. ( L>it. ) If he pro¬
nounces the letter f ”» I know that he means ** Fafah-
Za^ ” - ( is the name of a village).
oljll^ .J 'o9' ( Slang'} Quite abundant? in great supply.
jr^K) To be the first to introduce a custom ? etc.
( Lit, ) To open the door.
O *^^ To conquer. ( Lit. ) To open.
^ jjxi [Colloquial} To rage. To exceed bounds. [Original
sense} To grow weak or lukewarm.
To rut ? be on { or in) heat.
Not e, originally means a male animal.
^ To pride oneself.
May I be thy ransom (heading in letters addressed
to dignitaries j ? Dear Sir.
Jyl ^ [ =" ^>*>^) I forgot it.
^ <t
jJ, {Intransitive verb 'i To spin. To fri 2 (*) or
frizzle ? curl ? crisp.
meanings as for the preceding entry to
- 593 -
be used in their transitive senses ) .
( Of ) Superior quality.
8^ -O' 8^2
C*m1 ^' To morrow is God’s dayj tco (/. e.
You can do the remainder to-morrow i there is no hurry
to finish such and such a thing to - day ) .
^ On the morrow i the next day.
To miss the opportunity y lose the chance.
\j c-*^ jl^ To avail oneself of the opportunity >
seize the opportunity.
jMt Breathing - gap. ( L,it. ) Time to scratch
one’s head.
yJt* or To consider it one’s duty'» deem
necessary or essential.
^ To grant an impossibility.
^ To take for granted.
* ,
... To be due to y or consequent on. . , .
j) Interest exceeding the principal. { Figura¬
tively ) More details than the fundamental points.
^ jb To part the hair.
^^ To make a distinction i discriminate.
8^ O- ^
ji S^ To dip or sink. To swallow.
^ To come down i descend. To land.
^ To bring down i cause to descend.
3^ To sink. To be swallowed. To be inhaled.
To collapse i fall in ( or down ) V tumble down.
To fall to pieces.
Jf 3^ To thrust. To drive j as a nail. To stick.
^ as o**r^ J> )
3^ To subside { also o-»-/ ->>} .
3B
- 594 -
jT" [With 31) Xo omit or neglect. Cf.
Jj$ To omit » leave out.
^ [With 31) To be unable to ... .
^To quench or extinguish \ cause to subside. To
quell or suppress.
Jji To subside. To be quelled or quenched. To sag *
sink ) cave in.
deceived or cheated.
To deceive or cheat.
jJjt J F. T. Be not de -
ceived by a foe> nor deluded by a panegyrist (or flatterer).
To dissol ve y as a partnership. To annul or
terminate. To rescind or revoke.
^o^\^olloquial or slafig'^ To linger > saunteri dally.
* sjg
{Slang )
Wee j tiny j also) contemptible,
sS« *
J * To bear pressure » press. [With ^ ) To press
against. — ->^ To press some one.
0^**3 To press or squeeze.
[Colloquial} To squirt.
[Col loquial} Meddler > nosy person. Blabber. Intruder.
[Original sefise} Meddling i interference. [Used as an
ad\ective} Nosy i meddlesome. Intrusive.
1-31 [Quasi proper name for a nosy person}
Nosy Parker ( sometimes j^.as}.
{Colloquial'^ To meddle with, or poke
one’s nose into » other people’s affairs. To be intrusive.
To make mischief by blabbing.
o sS?
- 595 -
Powerful monarch or dictator. ( ) One who
does what he pleases.
Slang'] Dilapidated i tumbledown.
J Such and such a thing or person > so-and-so.
One thing or other.
aSt 3^
CUmI \Colloqutal] He is inwardly bad. Cf. the E.
rotten at ( or to) the core. ( Lit, ) His metal is bad.
* aS
[ Slang } To pack off i take oneself off i
buzz off.
2^ a^g
[Slang] To have at one’s fingers’ ends*
know it well by heart. ( is a puff or blow } .
Knack 1 clever way of doing a thing. Also )
last touch { originally of potters manufacturing bowls.
This consists merely of blowing on the bowl for the pur¬
pose of cleaning it) .
To blow or puff. To blow out > extinguish by
blowing.
a^ tv a^g
[Slang] To swell with pride i boast.
[Colloquial] To f izz Or hiss.
a> tv ajg
ojd I Colloquial ) To blow one’s nose. { Better
Say I-^ ^ }
a^g tv 3^
4) A veteran gambler. A public-house loafer i
a bar-lounger. The knuckle-bone used in a gam¬
bling - house.
[Colloquial'\ To get round a person j influ¬
ence him in one’s favour. (L//.) To steal his knuckle-bone.
< 5 - 3 ^
{ Colloquial } To snatch or seize ( = .
To sneak away i slip away i slink off or away.
(hit,) To play the smuggler.
smuggle.
J O^ld ( Slang ) Bragging. Fuss.
3^ “ft 8^
4 . 5 ^ V?" Loafing » wool - gathering. ( Lit. ) Tending geese.
8^ * 8^
To be cracked i split j or cut.
‘ ^ ^^jS^Ln ,3>^L§
J>l-x :;\j^ h. The spoon - maker’s trade is a
simple one j you flatten the head by striking on it ) and
lengthen the tail by pulling it. See .>.>!•*! iSJ^ t5..^CiAT etc,
on page 466.
( Open ) ) as a fruit.
8^ O 8^
^ To fall short. — I | fjg failed to
do \ he could not do it.
^^E'i Poll " mell » mixed up.
- 597 -
To menstruate j have one’s periods or monthlies.
[ *acl; literally means “ rule ” > but is used here as an
adjective meaning “ menstruating or unwell ” ) .
From pole to pole i throughout the world ? all
the world over.
Note. v-iU is a fabulous mountain surrounding the
world ) but is sometimes identified with Mt. Caucasus.
iJi wCl) 4^1*9 He ran short of rimes. ( Figuratively )
He was driven to extremities.
To be unable to answer from excitement.
( ^it. ) To lose the rime.
^ <i- ^
Idld ( Chiidish word } Nicy » goody > lollilops.
Colloquial } To get a thing over and
finished with ( once and for all ) > also i make short work
of it.
Note. There are three explanations for the literal
meaning of . The first is that Jl' is short for
J Ji* which means “ noise > row j fuss j etc. ” But the
verb ( to dig ) does not fit with this explanation.
The second connects it with or which is
the act of smelting or purifying an ore j the idea being
that after this is done the purified metal is dug out of
the pit in the cupola - furnace. According to the third
explanation ? however > the word should be spelled
which means “a bee-hive”> and hence the phrase means
“to dig up the bee-hive”. Cf. the E. phrase ‘^hornets’
nest ” .
JC To smelt.
To keep ( someone ) waiting and never turn up.
To leave in the lurch. {Originally same as q.
^ O’
To mould i model > shape i form. {Figuratively)
To pass off i fob > foist off ( something on some one ) .
To adulterate. To coin ? as a word.
-S98-
^ fcJlS To resign one’s life (of being ) . ( Lit, ) To
empty one’s bodily frame.
^ ( Colloquial ) To make noise i (make a) din.
O * 358
^(.Am To be convinced. (Lit,) To be contented.
jJT *5^ To convince or satisfy. ( Lit, ) To give content¬
ment (to ) .
old old To laugh heartily V roar with laughter.
2^ * 2>
^J)ld (J^ith <;) To believe ini maintain. [V^ith }
To grant. ( originally means one who says i one who
maintains (an opinion ) ) .
258 * s58
[Colloquial) Secure i fasti firm. [Used adverbially)
Firmly i fast. Severely.
[Colloquial - coufused with Xo conceal
or hide oneself.
To conceal or hide. above,
25 s -O 2^8
JLd Front i face. [Used only in JMIn face of. In lieu
of. Alongside of. In comparison with].
25 s ■{> 258
4)Ld To purch ase by a title-deed ( or deed of sale).
\Sj^ OLd To know about a thing thoroughly i
know Ihe history of it. ( Lit , ) To be (like) an old title-
deed for something.
25 ? * 258
c-old^ <«r (^1^5 T. It is a robe which
has been made to measure for him ( /. e. It befits him
only to do it i also > he is made for this work j or he is
the man foi it ) .
25? * 258
Nimble. Equipped for action.
258 ?5g
0 ^^To take the soul ( of ) .
25? -B- 258
- 599 -
Outfit i equipment. {L,it.) Holster and brazier.
JwC {Colloquial } = J^9 q. V. below.
To maintain > as true \ believe ( in ) . To admit
Or agree.
0^“ J>i To be accepted or admitted. To be approved. To
be granted > as a request or prayer.
accept. To believe (in) . To admit. To agree
to. To grant.
To accept a bill j write one’s accepfance.
Obscene > shameful. — ^ jl It is a shame for
you > it is beyond your dignity .
2^ * 25?
^ To bluff.
J3* or {Slaug.*] Stiff-necked > also) conceited.
25? * O
b /*J3" {Colloquial } Height.
bt_9 To be of the required size. — ****^*^ cr-i It is out
of {or beyond) my depth See -li on page .5 86.
25? <} 25?
jJS To know the value of something» appreciate
it (also colloquially } .
jJS To come to know the value of something)
begin to appreciate it.
To express one’s appreciation » ( with -?l }
appreciate .
oLiTli <r <^iT ? ^ ^ ^j^-9
T-. You never know the value of a kind friend until
you fall into the hands of an ignoble person.
H. E. ( Same as ior etc. )
25? o 25 ?
bAd To signalize oneselfi attract attention. To thrive
or prosper. To straighten up oneself. ( E/7. ) To make a
banner of one’s stature.
iA9 To grow tall i also) grow above one’s age.
- 600 -
jP jS ( Colloqutal } To measure.
^Vb You are ( will be) most welcome \ we are
{or shall be) very glad to see you come, (hit.) You may
put your feet on my eyes,
J To take a step or action.
Step by step.
Cr- To bring good luck.
•+ _ _
To walk. To step or pace.
^ To measure by steps. { Intransitively ) To bring
good luck.
To keep pace.
( UmI)) I congratulate you on the birth
of your child, (hit.) May his foot (i. arrival) be blessed.
Note. The variant ^ULui means “ May
he bring good luck .
~ Ex ample : (^^) He is due to
arrive to-day.
To place i set.
A I
tat*- j9 It was agreed. It was resolved.
j!^9 To malce an appointment or arrangement) agree.
^ To settle \ sit down. To become quiet » be
comforted . — j\j ^ We resolved
( or decided ) to . . .
oldVU Appointment » rendezvous » date.
jltat-A J ( Colloquial } Agreement > also j collusion.
(Colloquial'] Worn-out i dilapidated, (hit. ) Scrap
(metal ) j also » filings.
IaIbC . • , . ^ I E. T. It is easier to
imagine that a mistake has been discovered in the Koran
than that he will fail to do ( such and such a thing ) ,
( Said when a person does not fail to do what he is in
the habit of doing } .
- 601 -
May I be sacrificed to thee. (Phrase of endear¬
ment used in fondling a child or expressing one’s love to
one’s sweetheart. In the latter case a near E. parallel would
be “ I adore you ” } . next eYttvy,
Of T, May I be sacrificed to thee.
( Form of addressing the Shah or other dignitaries j .
J To implore cr beseech some one to do a
thing. (This means originally to say “May I be sacrificed
to you ” ) . Cf. the above two entries.
Note. means “ alms ’’i and is related to »
which is used in (J. above.
To make
on page 54l.
8 ^ < 3 -
firm or strong. To secure. ^
(jii or ^ To contract a debt.
^ To lend » make a loan to.
^ To borrow.
^ ^ To have the loan of > borrow.
O^jJT <—J ^ C ) To borrow ( from various
sources ) .
<C To cast lots.
^^jt ^Uj J The lot fell upon him.
^ 3 To draw lots. (The verbal noun is which
means “ draw? or the drawing of lots ? also i balloting }.
ooj-jj' To preserve or fence. To exclude outsiders from.
(v3^ is from the Turkish which means “a preserve
or park ” } .
^ ^
jA To blush. To be roasted brown. {Lit.) To turn red.
Ui j\S i P. T, A man from Ghazvtn splits hairs or
skins a flint.
Note. It is impossible to render this in E. » as it is
a sort of play on words based on popular etymology ?
- 602 -
which considers that ( one of Ghazvin ) is derived
from ( seeing farthings ) .
{ A. ) ( Usually «-r*J ) And so forth • etc.
(hit.) Infer the rest from this.
Ot ^^ To take an oath.
To administer an oath (to) i swear i cause to swear.
To swear falsely > perjure oneself.
oiA) 2. Don’t Swear it. {Said to one who tries to
empty a vessel to the very last drop) or licks the bottom
of a dish clean}.
2^ * 8^
(Act based on) prejudgment. (2.//.) Punish¬
ment of a crime not yet committed .
35s <3- 3^
U-ad To make an attempt on some one’s life.
0-630 To have an intention i intend. To mean.
w'^wT To intend. To determine. To make an attempt.
^0^*0 I did not mean that.
35s 35g
To go scot-free > save one’s skin. ( hit. ) To
escape pregnancy i as a barren animal.
35? * §51
To fail i come short i
(with ^ neglect.
35^ 0
<^0 To lengthen out a story. To be verbose.
To shorten the story i sum up i be brief.
o ^
j li»9 ( or Ui jl ) By ch.-mce. It (so) happened
C->b. ^Iii9 To ease nature.
^ ^ 35?
To set in a row or file i cause
a queue. To make a string of.
„ 35? o sC?
CjLi^ Cjh^ Drop by drop i in drops.
that.
to Stand
in
35s <}■ 35?
- 603 -
To lose hope » despair.
Apart from j irrespective of » independent of.
4j|lad To cut to pieces. To parcel or divide.
I *•
To receive a slap on one’s neck.
lad To give a slap on ( some one’s ) neck.
Note, The above two idioms are rather bookish »
and the colloquial variants are and J
respectively.
ji To keep some one silent i bribe him.
( Lit, ) To close his mouth by a padlock.
To be affected with colic.
*
[Colloquial^ Faked i phon(e)y. See also
( Lit. ) Crooked like a hook.
O -O' ^
[Used as an adjective^ Counterfeit or base.
Example : ^1* J>i
Transmutation, (i*//.) The changing of the essence
( of something ) .
[ Colloquial - irof?/ Turkish } A tough guy,
A strong and stubborn person. A bully.
^ eradicate or extirpate.
IjruJ* ^ ( Colloqui al ) To get the length
of one’s shoes. To come to know ( lit. get) some one’s
moods or habits.
Note. A variant form is V where
perhaps means “ knuckle-bone ” .
To be crossed out.
To pass off. To present.
O.JjT To carry astraddle on one’s shoulders.
^ ^ I _
To write off j cross out > cancel C also y" }
- 604 -
To chase > carvej engraved boast. To drive a pen or quill.
To Break in two parts \ cut in two ( originally as
when one Breaks a reed pen) . To make a pen of.
To cross Out or cancel.
I F. T, The pen-
sa id , am the king of the world and will give wealth
to any one who uses me for writing. ” See (Ui
^ To write.
e>L3 To tear ( something ) so that a piece is cut
out of it.
Nole. -^-1* is a kidney or an irregularly - shaped
stone » and stands for *‘dug*’ - in this case “torn”.
^ o ^
C H
Barmecide feast. See Jj on page 184.
Note, is a kind of dish j and ->*^1 means
expectation.
I a**i£. J ^ F. F. The only crop of Ghom
was cauliflower » and even that did not thrive this year.
Note. is a corruption of the Arabic and
is a dialect for *was not’ or ‘ did not exist’ .
8 ^ * 3 ^
{Slang} To bluff.
^ i ) He could not contain himself for
joy. 2) He derived extreme pleasure from that. ( Lit. )
Sugar was dissolved in his heart.
o sCg
^wU) ( {Origijial ly } To assume a consistency*
be inspissated.
To get into shape. To be settled.
Scanty food just enough to keep one alive.
To become humpbacked. To crouch or squat
( also } .
- 605 -
Xo Break one’s word (of promise) .
To promise » give word. To warrant.
Word of honour j parole d’^honneur.
To make some one promise.
• • • ^ (1) He is not strong enough to . . .
(2) He cannot afford to . . . {•>* means “ power” } .
pour out one’s fury upon
a person.
He flew into a rage.
0^^ To sulk. — *^-1 ( ^ cr* ^ He is not on speak¬
ing terms with me.
^ J ( 5i
} Sulkiness » also » anger.
(^) To retrograde. ( L,it. ) To walk Backward.
To roar with laughter.
J To measure ( others’ corn ) By one’s
own Bushel. ( Lft. ) To form an analogy with oneself.
^ To provoke vomiting.
^ To vomit.
“ Exat7iple : * 1 .— ! He is Blear-eyed.
<k
^ To rise. To revolt.
^ ^ To make a scene > kick up a row.
See also the next entry.
To Be a prodigy ( of ) . To perform a wonder,
(hit. ) To rise ( from the dead ) .
To dispense with something i
abandon it i not worry about it.
To stipulate) make it a condition? insert as a condition.
- 606 -
eU JL5 ^ J-J To kick up a row * raise a tumult.
{^Construed also with '} ,
Slang'] To have a gnawing sensation: said
of the stomach.
8 ^ * 8 ^
^ Cwo>* ^ 1) To assess (the value of) 1 evaluate ( =
2) To inquire the price of.
8^ 8St
0 ,^jr (< 0 iJ) To chop or hash. {See the next entry) .
S C Slang ) To heat to a mummy i pound
to a jelly » make a mince*meat of.
Notes, { 1 ) ^ 1 as used in the above two idioms*
originally means chopped meat * or a stew made with it.
(2) means preserved or potted meat * corned beef *
pemmican * and the like.
3 ^ * 8^8
^ ^ ^ It is a matter in which water and
fire are involved. (Cited as an excuse in cases where food
which has been cooked is not found to be savoury or tasty) .
^IS** It is all over. The die is cast.
( Colloquial for To start to operate or
run (again) i come into operation.
OwUl {Colloqiiial for u*^T jiC q on page 489.) .
jsi-l.uIjiS’ {Colloquial for Xo commission;
operate > work > as a mine. To invest * as a capital.
He is not equal to the task » he is not the man for
it. It is not in his line. He is not likely to have done this.
( Colloquial for o—; j'sC* ^ 'J’q apply or use ( also
) . To put into practice.
C—jS* { Poetic al ) Things are as one wishes.
3^“^ jlS^ ( CotHpound word ) Go*between ( used in
- 607 -
a derogatory sense) ione who procures means by influen¬
cing others or corrupting them.
*3^ idiomatically means to prepare or
manage.
JJ iSl ang )
A Herculean task i also •> a hard
row to hoe.
Note. Here Jt* which means “ an elephant ” j has
been personified and raised to the rank of a saint or pro¬
phet owing to the title “His Eminence or Excellency”.
The good affair ” » marriage (often } ■
* Cm-I -1)1 <) { Add the followhig ) ;
jE, E, He is on his beam-ends.
Jl—jK* It will involve you in difficulty.
{ Lit. ) It will put some work into your hand.
The kitchen’s (carving - ) knife ( i. an article
which serves a number of purposes. C'. ) .
J To be at daggers drawn ( with some
one). (is a knife and the duty of drawing it }.
^ CoWbX) I am dealing with his case. ( Lit. ) His
affair is in my hand.
C-mI He is ruined. It is all over with him. He
( or she ) has fallen i he {or she ) is spoiled.
C*mI He is in a deplorable condition. See also the
first two meanings of crjiT
Cmi*! It is all over with him. He is done away
with. ( Lit. ) His work is finished.
? c-i ur vif Where is it made {or manufactured ) ?
To move : said of the bowels ( translated ) .
Example :>^~0 His bowels did not move.
( Lit. ) To work or operate.
O' ^{Same as ^ etc. q. v. on
page 306 , with “ to work ” for ) .
dr * f jiy To go through the mill > become thoroughly
experienced.
- 608 -
<01^ ij ^ -^• When the suitor
reaches a stage where he has to bargain » he is sure he
has won the bride. (The bargaining is done in order
to fix the amount of the marriage-portion which has to
be settled on the wifei and denotes either that the suitor
has not received a flat denial* or that he has overcome it} .
Note, The pvb. may be extended to any other tran¬
saction as well.
jLitLi jlS* He is bright when there is nothing to
be done. ( Ridiculous remark about a lazy person } .
Things don’t look well {or don’t go right).
Business is not good. means affair or business} .
JUib j\ ,jK> Let him alone.
jir F. T. It is not a matter of a few
I** *4 ^
pence ( L ^. It is a serious question * it is not to be
despised ) .
fcAJL) wXJl) F. T. If a thing is not to be
done well * so much the better if it is left undone.
Th ere is nothing hard about it » that is every
man’s work. - ft has nothing to do with
religion i it has no connection with religion.
<J^ ^5! {Same as o-* with
the orders of <-'S' and reversed ).
jM \j bljolS'3 To lay the blame on some one.
(Lit.) To break the bowl and the jug on some one’s head.
Note, means figuratively “(a poor man’s)
chattels and furniture ” .
1 ) To leave in the lurch. 2 ) ( /« games } To spot.
( Lit, ) To plant Or sow.
F. r. It is a pity you were not born twins.
( Said ironically to one who makes an insipid remark >
or whose joke falls flat } ,
• • * wjLmIS* It was found out (or discovered) that...
- 609 -
Note, originally means “ discoverer ” » and
I ^rn al a loss to understand how the phrase is to he
explained grammatically i nor do I know where and hy
whom it has first heen used.
iAUmIS* \j F. T, J wish ’’ or “ would that ”
was planted hut did not grow. Cf, the E, pvh. A thou¬
sand wishes will never fill your pail with fishes.
cjli atir ( Compound word ) Scrap of paper ; document of
little or no validity.
VS** To set the fox to watch the geese. {Eit.) To
entrust a thief with the care of goods.
To seek gratification or fruition.
To enjoy fruition. To attain one’s aim.
To gratify one’s wiBh(es) .
To gratify some one’s wish.
( A. ) {^k^tr ~ uvi 1 avi - y ukon ) Null { and void )
( Eit, ) As if it had never existed .
2^ -O O
To investigate. {Lit ) To dig.
(jijJ U oS* T, To put the straw
before the dog ? and the hone before the ass.
F. E, ( Sittite £is f Of 31 etc )
O cS* To make mountains out of mole-hills.
( Eft. ) To make a mountain of a straw.
2^8 - H - 2^2
To be decreased or diminished.
2^ <J. 2^
Circumstances. ( Eit, ) Created beings » universe.
To roast on a spit or skewer, {higuf a lively) To
cut to the heart > make ( one’s ) heart bleed i draw tears
from his eyes.
39
- 610 -
*JT form a crust j indurate : said of the skin.
A A decoy - pigeon. (Figuratively ) A decoy.
( ^it’ ) A pinioned pigeon.
tnder yjt c_Ci etc. )
a
O'^-^ To tattoo oneself. - iS^yf <; To incline to blue.
* $
To mould i be get) musty.
3^ fl-
jl-) cJ" Example; a^_, b j| j^^y pinioned his arms to
his sides (or back) . o—i cS 'J'q outstrip or
outp.ice some one. Example : I w-ii 3 i |j ^ cS Hg
out-herods Herod.
Note. cX is a corruption of ^ *‘shoulder (-blade)
cijiS [ Slang } Alleged ( without any reasons ) . Also >
Said with no truth or in jest.
hiUT* To be beaten (or cudgelled)
j To beat. ( Lit. ) To cudgel.
iZoAiS'j szS’ (Slang ) Thick i squab or stubby.
C.Z-^ J\ jxrjjj V F. r; When
have you been during the whole week .? It seems yoi
have lost count of the days ! ( Said to one who makei
a hurry after a great delay ) .
^ f,,*? y®** feel ‘he pain ?
\ .) What part of your body aches ' '
1 (Colloquial for b n
The worst (or best) part of it is behind. P. T. You have
only seen a little of it ( or him ) . ( Said to one whe
expresses surprise at a thing or person , although he hat
yet much more to know about it or him )
S C«-(^'Ur Where is he from ? i. e. ^hat city or couhtfj
IS he a native of
O' o
-6ll-
Aijf" J jff* ^ Slang'} Crooked or distorted.
*0 ^
[Slang} Monkey-business, (hit.) Playing the
little scald-headed one.
Slang ) To harass. (Lit. ) To make scald-headed.
JJlT To be offended. (Lit. ) To become turbid.
jd/'jJkT To make turbidi tarnish. (Figuratively) To offend.
fJLT' S (JL^ So and so. Such and such. The famous . . . .
( also ) •
<3- ^
To show generosity. To perform a miracle.
( Lit. ) To grant or bestow.
^ O ^
jT ( With 31) To hate or abominate.
^ 8^
^ (Lit.) The hire for one *8 eyes. (If some one is look-
hig at you while you are eating something, and you of fer
him some of it . he might say r*l>*t*= ’■ « I <Io
not want a hire for my eyes . or. the fact that I have
seen you eat it doesn^t mean that I must eat it too J
4>1 jT To hire out » let (out) on hire .
^ To hire. To rent.
2^8 ^
<Jbc* ( Compound slang ) Necropolis i bone-yard i
cemetery.
means canvas > tenk - cloth ? burlap ^
and the like » or . in other words . and for the purpose
on hand, cloth used for making winding-sheets. There¬
fore, *1— u-lijS" really means “the place where the
winding - sheets are
8^ O 85g
To brood ^ as a hen.
ct
OT
* *•
jr To be benumbed
sS ^
612
{Colloquial ) To titter.
1^ Slang ) To beat about the bush i evade
the main question j give an evasive reply.
Nole, iSj'jf is perhaps a variant of which is
a corruption of ( name of a tune ) .
^^ To mat ) as the hair. is down or soft wool} •
3^8
^ To be generous. To deign to ... -
He deigned to reply . jf
2^8 -K-
To decay ) as the teeth. (Lii,) To be worm-eaten.
^ZPcJjp^r^ ( Sla?ig'} To grimace i pull a face. To monkey!
dodge i back out. To act coquettishly or pruriently. To
gratify one’s prurient desire by flirting » spooning , or
the like { in this sense also JT ^ } • ( ) To
expel or kill worms.
^t al } A veteran ! a past master.
( ) The worm of the profession ( or trade ) .
gjg
0*5^;^ {Colloquial } To crunch.
^ Ct
^^ ^ 1) To proceed slowly ! drag (on) i
also, tarry or linger. 2) To rumble.
t^L ^
{Colloquial } To singe.
- {^o^ioqu i al'] 1) To crouch or squat. 2) To shrink.
C-Jl-X To be indisposed or ill i not feel well
_ ^ ^
1 To have a deficit. To run short.
Disdain ! detraction from one’s dignity.
To he deducted. To be decreased or depreciated.
. . . <.r He is too proud to ... 1 it is below
liis dignity to . . .
To deduct. To discount. To depreciate.
- 613 -
jmS" To deduct. To recoup.
2^ <3- 2^
^ {Colloquial or slang) Cock and bull story.
To weary or disgust.
Kith and kin.
U J^JS' Noble and ignoble; /. e, everybody; the public.
iA> (i,Aa<cJ It is rumoured every¬
where j it has been noised abroad. ( Lil, ) All know this
except Khajeh - ez : a famous Persian poet .
2^ <3- 2^
{Colloqutal } To stretch oneself forward ? as
for an attack.
To admit of being drawn out ; stretch.
'I' e stretch ? dra out. ( ^ ^ ^ u r a 1 1 v € 1 o strain
wrest ; pervert.
2^ 2^
^ To wrestle.
^ ~ 3 1 ijr^ q, V, above , 2 ) To protract
or prolong.
•>h JS- Elastic ; flexible.
^ {Colloquial) To pilfer or filch.
2^ -n- 2^
O C« C <i r " { Si ang } Mind your own business.
{h,it. ) Grind your dried whey.
^ ^ P. T. I don’t know anything about dried
whey Or wool ? (A form of flat denial or refusal based on
the quasi assonance between the two words and (♦“!} .
2^ <3- 2^
^ U^- ^ • A gold-wire drawer
and a nightman both draw ” . ( Cited in jest when
a person fails? or does not care to> discriminate the higher
professions or arts from the ordinary trades } .
Piotc. translated here ‘‘nightman”? literally
means one who draws? t, removes night - soil or manure.
- 614 -
The beauty of the P. lies on the fact that 3 and 3^
have both 3^ “ drawer ’* for their second syllables.
2^? -O 3Sg
To send round the hat.
( L>it, ) To carry in one’s hand a cup for another.
^ote. jg 3 cup suspended by a chain and car¬
ried by a dervish. It is originally made of sea-cocoanut.
^
[Slang] 1) With no reason or truth (in it). Cf.
2 ) Ironically. 3 ) Phoney or sham. See the anecdote
under and the l^ote appended to st.
^ ^
^ 6>f ^jiS' Struggle or contention. Convulsion.
^ O ^
To (keep) watch. To guard.
To restrain or curb one’s anger.
To suffice.
* *
C-H^ To act as surety i become ( or go) bail. To act
for some one in a position.
To be sufficient. To suffice.
,usr { Colloquial'^ To divine. ( Lit. ) To smell
one’s palm, - fl ^ Don’t expect me to know
it 5 I cannot divine f because I have not smelled the
palm of my hand ) .
^ O ^
Notorious person or thing. ( Lit. ) Satan’s bias-
phemy or profanity.
yU To fill some one with furyi lash him
into fuiy » drive him mad. (Lit,) To cause him to Swear
or utter blasphemy.
To utter blasphemy j swear or curse.
2^ <3*
To clap (the hands) . To applaud.
\aS" To show one the door. To put
some one’s shoes together in readiness for him to wear them.
^ o ^
<> He was at the end of his tether >
he was driven to extremities. {Lit,) His skimmer touched
the Bottom of the pot.
Note, jg usually a shallow i flat-bladcd uten¬
sil used for serving food,
2^ ■&
^aT" (^^^/;7-)■To bury.
{kafan^ ) To wrap in a winding-sheet i shroud.
2C^ O 2^
-oaT" {Colloquial') To cough successively.
^ o
Oid^id To give bail.
0*-^^ t3-^^ stand bail i go bail.
5i } He doesn’t care a fig. ( Lit, ) He is
not bitten even by a flea.
Mote, is a contraction of (flea) .
Oiielj- Ub^MT T. The crows will wear black (or mour¬
ning ) . { Ironical reply given to a person who exaggerates
the evil results of an act or event. It amounts to saying?
“ Nothing serious will happen ” ) .
jr fcivir To form into a skein or, hank. To hobble.
<tdMr* {Colloquial) \ ) To be heat-struck or stifled.
2) To be harassed. means a skein or hank) .
cr oM_y* To rob Peter to pay Paul .
( Lit. ) To put Taghi’s hat on Naghi’s head.
Note. and are typical names. Some people
think this is somewhat different from q- >
and conveys the idea that one relieves himself by causing
other people to rob each other.
- 616 -
( oI-a-T <0 li ) \j ^vi_y- iggp jjjy .
fling up one’s cap i hug oneself j thank ( or bless ) one’s
stars. {Lit,) To fling one’s hat up (in the air) .
jIZmijy ©Mr* To cheat or defraud some one. ( L/7. )
To put a hat on some one’s head, — '^*'1 ^
You’ve been had. Cf. ^ ^
{ Colloquial ) He is uninfluential or inef¬
ficient \ also } he is a mere figurehead. ( Lit, ) His hat
has no wool.
To give a legal or religious colour
to something i get round the law i play a legal trick,
( Lit. ) To put a legal hat on the head of something.
Cf, ^
Note, A variant form of this idiom is •S\^, ^
i, e, to make a legal hat for something.
©Mr To defraud some one. {Lit,) To take off
( or carry away) some one s hat.
Notes. ( 1 ) It is interesting to note that while the
literal meaning of this idiom > which has mostly a legal
usagei presents a contrast to that of ^ ^ v ,,
they are almost synonymous with each other. (2) From
the idiom are derived the two legal words
oMr and j the one meaning * fraudulous
or defrauder’, the other ‘ fraud or defraudation’.
oMr ©Mr ( Colloqu ial '] To rob Peter to pay Paul i
make shifts. See Note under i ^ |j i-
* ** I _
^Lo.^Mr We came to a rupture. {Lit,) Our hats
went into , or were mixed with , each other.
{Colloquial } To make short work of
it. To put an end to something i get a thing over and
finished with (once and for all) . {Same as Jtt
ivith “ clay brazier ” for JU } .
bills' {Slang} To play tricksi be tricky ; said especially
of an unfaithful wife.
Oa;r(^-r [CoHoqnlal ) To get rid of , or dispatch .
some one , make an end cf him.
- 617 -
(^Colloquial'} To come into grips, (By extension)
To cope or deal under hard circumstances, is a crab}.
tyL ^
^ *0 3 3 iiil ^Lc»m I J?1
P, T, The pick fell from the sky and was not broken i
otherwise I would have been far from being unfaithful.
{ An illogical remark made as an analogy to things which
have no connection or similarity with each other).
Cf. the E. Chalk and cheese.
OjiS' To bolt » as a door. C is an obsolete wooden
bolt at the back of a door } .
CMitl ^He is half -seas - over i he is lit up.
(Lit. ) His head is hot.
^ (Colloqu't al} To fall or tumble (down ) . To be
taken ill (all of a sudden) . ( Lit. ) To fall so that one’s
head and feet change places.
To butt» push with the head. To tire out oneself > as
in explanations or altercations (in this sense also
£ Coni'pound tvofd - colloqtitaV} Bigwig > magnate »
grandee i swell. ( Lit, ) Big* headed (person) .
(Colloquial foT »_v^} To turn a somersault.
To fall down head forward.
(jiI To apply a key to > open with a key.
wills' To lock 1 as the teeth.
^ To key > lock with a key.
f ^ To run short.
JUT It is most unjust.
^ O ^
^* 32 ^ fj 3 i T. One cannot draw his how ( /. e.
one cannot cope with him ) .
OJUiT ^Ur^To draw a bow .
- 618 -
»— P, ’T. Eat little and you will have a
sound sleep, means “ round” or “ in a round way ”} .
^ ^ * A little bit less* and you will not burst.
( Said to one who overeats himself and becomes sick) .
l^otes. ( 1 ) is the diminutive form of
“ less ” . ( 2 ) ^is a negative verb from the infini¬
tive 0*4^^ “ to burst ” .
ts> <t
yS To gird up one’s clothes. (Figi/ratively) To pre¬
pare for action) gird up one’s loins ( Biblical ) .
,_r C-.0 jS T. To straighten one’s back ( c, resume
power or authority ) .
,jiS To perform a Herculean task. ( Pit. )
To bend the back of a ghoul ^
r* To break the neck of a task. [ The
original has “ back ” for “ neck ” } .
{Compound word - colloquial) Half - way i
middle i centre.
(‘IjS- o'/" JSjS T. Bashfulness gives birth to
an illegitimate child ( /. c. A woman who grants a man’s
wish from bashfulness gives birth to such a child) .
^y^S" {Colloquial ) To break down or bend under a
burden i be knocked up or exhausted.
To help ) lend one’s assistance.
To help or assist. To contribute.
He is distressed i he is hard up for money.
He has stuck in the mud i he has come to a deadlock.
( Pit, ) His horse is lame. ( is a dark bay horse) .
^ To 1 ie in ambuscade ( for ) .
2^? SSS
Owt—oi jl_ir To come to terms j come to an agreement.
( Pit, ) To come to one side (with another person) .
- 619 -
,«)>**»* jL.iS* To withdraw or retire. ( Lit. ) To draw aside
{fir to one side ) .
jLilof j\s To abandon i set aside. ( Lit. ) To lay aside.
^ ^ To keep aloof i withdraw » sequester or
seclude oneself.
OA jr To retire or wi thdraw. \}Vith jl) To resign.
To speak allusively or sarcastically.
8^ -O'
To blunt > set on edge. To retard.
( Colloquial ) To kneel down. {Lit.) To strike
one’s knee-pan on the ground.
OJU C-aIT {Colloquial} To get shop-soiled, {figuratively)
To be disgraced.
OA ^ destroy utterly i annihilate.
Mote. Oj^ literally means “ Be » and so it is
{ “ Be ” in this case represents the word of creation} .
aS -O' 3^
To draw in one’s horn j lower one’s note. To
fall short ( 0*^*^ } .
■O' O -O'
To shorten. To cut short. To crop* as the hair. —
ICr*" Let us be brief.
To neglect or fail ( to do something ) .
^ jf {Colloquial } To heap up.
Mote, is a variant form of “manure”i hence
means “ to heap up like manure ” .
0 - 0-0
To decamp » set off » migrate,
o -» o
To dwindle in size. ( figuratively ) To lose
one’s dignity { often }
To reduce in size. ( Figuratively ) To humi¬
liate { often } .
- 620 -
humble oneself i show courtesy.
To give way (to). (L//.) To open a lane (across).
A very narrow lane. ( Originally ) A lane
which is so narrow that does not admit of two persons to
pass without touching ( or kissing ) each other » which
causes their reconciliation.
Jjf' To go blind.
1) To (make) blind. 2 ) To obscure the light of.
Example ; >/ h t. 3) fju „p ;
cover up. Example >. l> *V
(One) born blind » (one) blind from birth.
< 55 ^* j ^ {Colloquial Half-blind.
! ^.>1; J Blind eyes and ogling ! ( Referring to an
impossibility } .
c\j [ Compound word ^ Obscure narrow path.
{Compound word'] Partial ability to read and write.
3^ <1- SS?
To take off ( for a spring )} give a start,
Sig nal for departure.
To beat the drum. — -^3^ ^ 1 -^ They claim
to have introduced ( or to be supporting) peace.
O'^'^ To beat a retreat.
Lost labour *» vain effort.
To endeavour i make an effort.
{Oef ogalory slang for] To eat (used especially
of things which it is forbidden or unlawful to eat).
( means syphilis ) .
To baste. To stitch loosely.
To be tuned. To be wound up. ( Figuratively )
To be wrought up. To get angry i be highly strung.
To tune. To key » as a piano. To wind up » as
-621 -
a watch. ( Figuratively ) To string up i brace ( up ) ;
render high~i>trung.
3'-^ O*^carry pickaback.
To ride pickaback.
Of lit€vaty slang^ An arrant ass {or fool).
(Lit, ) An ass’s hole.
^ AjjT To take root.
•& 3^
^®^^■ The Elburz Moun¬
tain ? who was in hard labour > brought forth a mouse.
E, E. The mountain was in labour » and brought forth
a mouse.
{}• t t j>,Mtjui^ o^C> [^Add the iollowing E.C.};
Friends may meet ? but mountains never greet.
To wear out i make old. ( Figurat/ vely ) To
have experienced.
i, Col loqu I ax'} To shrink) have a shrinkage.
To have an eye on some one’s money i have
embezzling intentions i start swindling money out of
a person. ( Lit, ) To sew a bag.
-UX { Fof To bag i put in a bag or sack.
( Of To rub with a flannel or glove ?
as in a Turkish bath - house.
ty> <t
0 *^.^“^ To shoo ) drive away > as a bird. ( At chess } .
To check.
s> ^
{^V^ith <;) To intoxicate or inebriate. (Ey exten¬
sion) To give pleasure Or gratification to.
C*«*J {Slang') He is gay 4 he is jolly as a thrush)
he is in high feather.
— i
T To enjoy oneself. To go pleasuring. To feel the
exhilarant effects of an intoxicant.
To measure or gauge.
§ F. r. Who was it who Said a dead
man cannot laugh ? ( Said with reference to a seemingly
weak or timid person who unexpectedly shows ahold action^
^ \y^ith jl} To take vengeance on.
To have a deep rancour. {Lit, ) To he
revengeful {OT rancorous) as the camel.
To take vengeance, ( Sometimes ) .
< 3 - 3«8
< 1 ?
To bite ) as a dog.
Collusion i hitching horses together.
(One who is) notorious (for a specified act
or habit. ) ( Lit, ) The ox with a white forehead.
j\L ^ L. A cow which gives 9 “mans’* of milk
( but which kicks over the pail ) . C Epithet of a person
who is possessed of numerous good qualities ) hut who
spoils them because of a single had behaviour) . Cf.
{Colloquial^ Occasionally.
I^otes. (1) >1-^ is the same as -> IJLT tc passage or pass-
ing ” ) q. V. under y, fjl-iT ( 2 ) A variant form of
this idiom is or *1?'
JkF To be beggarly or miserlyt act as a beggar
or miser. ( Lit. ) To play the beggar.
-623 -
P.^. It does not affect the beggar so much whether you
give him a loaf of bread t or take one from him. {Cited
in similar instances ) .
* h U loP \^Ad£l itt the etid'^ fi, E, Nothing doing.
6 ja\^ ^fwX_r' An importunate beggar ? also ? any one who
insists on something. {Ett.) A beggar from Samaria.
^ <t
...J ^j\jr I h appened to pass by . . .
To manage to live > get along j subsist.
{ With jl) To overlook or remit i also j waive.
To do without. { Without jl ) To make concessions. To
waive one’s claim.
{^With 31 } To overlook > spare i forgive i forbear
from. (L/f.) To cross or'pass. — We are enjoy¬
ing ourselves j we are having a good time i it fares well.
:?l AiJLjr Furthermore i besides.
CMtoP Ka <2^ Jir Let bygones be bygones.
^Loj To cost dear(ly). Ex aw pi e .* cr*
1 paid dear(ly) for it i it cost me dear(ly) .
o
He can’t say “ bo ” to a goose.
{Ut.) He can’t drive away a cat.
To lead one a. dance. To pull the wires i
wirepull. { Eit. ) To dance a cat.
M\f^<^lloquiaP\ To wash up hastily or imper¬
fectly. ( Eit, ) To wash like a cat.
iJjKc ^ A hypocrite j a wolf in sheep’s clothing. ( Eit, )
The pious (or worshipping) cat. {Referring to an anecdote
according to which a cat hypocritically offered to judge
between two birds > and preyed on both of them } .
To assemble > gather together. To be amassed,
idTo amass or accumulate. To assem bl e > call
together 9 rally..
^ To seek to do > or embark on > something.
-624-
^^ accumulate or amafls. To make round. To
round off. Cf.
^ { Vof To go ( out) for a walk.
To ( take a ) walk. To circulate. To rotate or
revolve. To change.
Water off a duck’s back. ( Lit, ) A walnut
on a dome.
To behead. (Lit, ) To cut off the neck of.
8S8 * 3^
jl; ( For doing it
( because he had said he would do it )
To lie at one’s door. Cf,
\^For To lay at some one’s
door i hold one responsible for. ( Lit, ) To put { it ) on
some one’s neck.
0 '^i^O^J‘jo rebel. (Lit.) To pull (/. erect) one’s neck.
O^j^. ) To acknowledge or confess i
declare oneself responsible for. (Lit.)To take it onone’sneck.
0*^“ at the door of i cause ( one ) to do
( a specified ) act.
C.-I JtSjjii .>1 My neck is thinner than a hair
(?. I have no pretensions whatsoever to being powerful;
also ) I am not stubborn )
aiCir V. r. I would rather break my neck than do
( or say) such and such a thing ; also ! woe is me !
•»- lEs
0*^5To starve; suffer from
lack of food. means “ hunger” }
O*^ ^ tf ^**** To famish ; starve.
O'^J! iSJi?" To Imnger for { or after) somethins
,vli9^r 1) Encumbered by. Example: o\f„ .
oi. Example: . 2) Enamoured
To be involved ; get into difficulty. To be
- 625 -
captured . - fl-*- I am in a bad fix i I am
in a sorry plight ) .
^ To capture or arrest. To involve.
Absorbed in work i very busy. ( ) Heated or
warmed up by the work.
To heat. {Figuratively) To excite. To make brisk.
i;} To get in close ( or warm) connections
with \ get off with j also j get sweet on.
Vicissitudes of fortune > ups and dowrs.
( L'it. ) The cold and the hot of the world.
(Same as J' q_ v, in the
text ) . See also the preceding entry.
ozy \ snug. ( Lit . ) \V arm and soft.
^Jt^ C } To wager or bet.
To take on mortgage i obtain a mortgage on.
.3JT To distrain upon.
3JT To put in pledge? give as a pledge. To mortgage.
Kt
'r -s ‘r [Slang) Off the reel. In great supply. Fiercely
or intensely j as fire burning { also ^y* } .
<r
To smooth the brow. (Lit.) To untie the
knot on one’s brow.
y ® To knit the brow. ( Lit . ) To form a knot
on one’s brow.
^To become knotty j be entangled. ( Lit. ) To
form a knot. To kink.
o JT or ^ To tie or knot ,
JjT ,t,/‘ A h ard knot. (Lit.) A blind knot. (Figuratively)
A knotty affair.
o JT cjT Inch by inch. Desultorily or irregularly.
Note. ( gereh ) = 2.5 6 -f- inches
To rend one’s collar.
40
- 626 -
Note, This idiom is bookish or literary > (he col¬
loquial variant for it being ^
seize some one by the collar.
( Figuratively ) To befall some one.
2^ <3-
To shift to a new subject, (hit.) To
run away to the Kerbela Desert. Cf, below.
Note. It is a usual practice with the professional
narrators of the tragedies of Xerbela i ( which involved
the martyrdom of Em^m-Hosseiti ) , to discuss first some
religious or moral question , and (hen derive from
it a link whereby they can shift to the narration of the
tragedies.
To dodge ( round ) . To deviate. ( With 31 ) To
elude or evade. To escape or elope. — 0-^3 j)
To play (he truant.
W «V
to tears.
O
( Eor 0^1-^ I ] To cause to weep *» move
Forced tears .
£
Tears of joy.
jT To provide one with an excuse or pretext
Note. ciJ^r originally means “a turn or chance .
To measure. See 0 ^ ofi p^pe 326
__ _ ^ o ^
( Colloquial ) To smart , as a wound.
jOiUj ( Often with ) To harm or injure.
( Same as jO page 229. )
e Colloquial ) To burn the candle at both
ends » outrun the constable.
Note. t^jL jLiT jg 3 backgammons whereby
a player intentionally exposes his men to be hit.
-62t-
{ Collo(^uial } We had words '•> /. B. a dispute
or quarrel. ( Lit, ) We had a conversation.
^ O ^
{CoIIoqu ial'j Save your reverence. {Lit,) Rose¬
water on your face. ( Cited as an apology for the use of
words indicating dirt or filth) .
To glow j aS the face. { is a flower } .
cJLciW) C ) Well done indeed !
{Used ifonically^ . ( Lit. ) A flower on your beauty.
Note. A variant form is where
means “ corner ” .
To pick or pluck flowers. ( Figufatively ) To
enjoy fruition.
To select (from the best lot). {Lif.) To pick?
as flowers.
To flower or blossom.
See ( 2 ) To hang fire. ( 3 ) ( Figu-
fatively ) To show up i become apparent.
Hear ! Hear ! {Used ironical ly} , {Lit.) You have
spoken a word that is as good as a flower.
Jf' {Slang'] Quite loose or wide.
Note. I believe the origin of this idiom is .3^^
i. wide as a i which is a wide - mouthed sack.
aiJ’J JP' ( Colloquial ) The parts about the neck. is
a contraction of “ throat ” } .
jji ^ Jj* ( Colloquial } The parts about the ears.
{See in the preceding entry).
Kt i
^<)^^Jlf*To form {or wind) into a balli roll upi conglomerate.
^ prime of life i he
is in the bloom of youth. ( Lit. ) Not one of his one-
thousand flowers has opened.
under J^)
- 6 ^ 8 -
k) 1 (j iS,^> To get over one*s dif¬
ficulties j also » to keep the wolf from the door j or to
keep one s head above water, ( ) Xo draw one’s car¬
pet out of water.
8 ^ * 3 ^
To be suspicious. Also j to believe or think i be of
the opinion {= . {IF/'/A ) To be suspicious of.
{Colloquial I suspect him, (Lit. ) My
suspicion is directed toward him.
6*^^To be misled or seduced. To err. To go astray.
To lead astray > mislead or seduce.
^ Get away ! Get out ! ( Lit, ) Be lost.
To lose or misplace i throw out
of sight.
Note. The origin of this idiom is perhaps ^
~ distinct verbs meaning “ to lose ” and
to bury respectively . Some have also suggested the
origin to be ^ “ to lose in a grave ” .
{Compound uord) Whose daily portion is
scanty ( lit. as much as that of a sparrow) . Also j satis¬
fied with a small quantity of food or money.
^ir Mine of wealth i tons of money i a world of
money; money-bags. (Lit.) The treasure of Croesus.
hate. is originally Korah ( Biblical name) .
^ ^ fOi-P oLiBU:?!
( Add the following E. E. } ;
He that sows thistles shall reap prickles.
O O
0*5..^J To call (some one) to witness.
Of oljT To call to witness.
To give evidence ( of ) i bear witness ( to ) .
To certify or attest.
3^ -0- 8^
-629
iJ-T To sink , as the eyes. ( Lit. ) To become
( Of fall ) deep .
^ ^
P-r h ( Si a?ig ) Qet ^way i get oul ? he gone.
( lull, ) Lose your (on h. Perhaps with reference to one
who has risen from the dead > and must go liack to his
grave »^but is unable to find it from confusion } ,
-^3^ To buiy. ( Lit, ) To put into the grave.
Cs
-D- ^ I U { A(i(i the hj} }ou in^ } .*
af, the E, At length the fox is brought to the furrier.
^ ^
To eavesdrop.
^be alert j on the watch. ( Lil.) With one’s
ears to the bell.
0^^;^ Heady to obey orders. — ce* {Alilit at'))
Attention to orders ;
*'f^*^* one end to the other. {Lit.) From ear to ear.
0^*“*..^^ {f^oIJoquicil'^ Listen {or pay attention) to me.
3^ O
To make one’s blood run cold. {Lit,)'Yo
pour some one’s flesh.
To put on weight or flesh.
^• To heal up. {Lit.) To bring up new flesh.
O <3^ 3^
OoiU^ To wait silently for an opportunity.
Notes, The original foim of this idiom is perhaps
or “ to cause to lie { L
keep ) in > or at the back of > one’s ear”. Some believe »
however > that it means “ to bend one’s ear { in readiness
for hearing ) ” .
To listen. To hearken or obey {sometimes with ^ }.
( Lit, ) To give ( /. €. lend ) one’s ear.
He has heard enough of these words.
( Lit, ) bJis ears are full.
* .3^ Touch wood ! ( Lit, ) May the Devil’s
ear be deaf !
-630-
0<>^To listen (to) i hearken or, obey. {Pof
To wear > as an earring.
Ij 5 -r To Swindle money out of a person y
also 3 fleece him ( of his money ) .
^ y® Jif ( Same as or ,
'j ^To second or support a statement
{lit. to take up its corner ) .
To speak sarcastically » glance .
^ jLs^l To sequester oneself from the world i
withdraw from society, {^'it.) To choose sitting in a corner.
Hold the 1 ine > please i hold on i please.
C ^ is the receiver of a telephone } .
C—i { Si ang ) I am in the know i I am wise
to it. Also ) I am on my guard ( usually,oi—,>
^ <s ^
J,^-^ To be deceived. - To be de -
ceived by some one. - Cj^s J>5' To deceive or dupe,
J CAa.- ..\S3^ (^^ith jl} To outstrip or outdo i excel t
throw into the shade. (Lit. ) To carry away the ball
of precedence.
$ o sS^
[Slang and vulgar'} Absolute giddiness i utter
confusion.
«
To reel. To stagger.
g6*r To be confused) perplexed) or fuddled. To become
giddy. To be excited.
To stupefy. To bewilder. To fuddle. ( Lit. ) To
make giddy i give the vertigo ( to ) .
I ^.r 1 ) To be ( caught ) in a specified situation. Ex¬
ample : fl o-CiT I am in an awkward situation J
-631-
I am in a bad { ix ( or sorry plight ) . 2) To be obtain¬
able or available.
To get hold of. To catch. To obtain.
To get caught. To be betrayed. To be involved
( in a difficulty ) .
To betray. To involve in a difficulty i entangle.
To entrap.
To get stuck or caught. To meet with a dif¬
ficulty. To catch \tiitf£insitiv€^ , To falter or stammer t
Said of the tongue. To hesitate. To stumble. \^WUh \ }
To touch or hit. ( With } To collide i fall foul. To
engage ^ iulf uHsitivs ^ i n’esh.
J
V ( = (jjbil (iV ) To settle or deposit.
To settle.
All insid e. { N means fold or layer ” }
oy or i:?y ^ Colloqt4ial } Tatterdemalion. Street arab. Des¬
titute or naked (often J?-”* jl*-'I J where oh—T
means “ sky - clad ’’ } .
{Colloquial'] Th in as a lath > lean as a rake i also >
weak or sickly.
Note, V in Arabic means “ not or without ” »
and is colloquial for 0^^ life ” . So literally
means “ having no life ( /. strength ) ” .
^ o p-
^^y To need or require. — It takes
two days ( to be done ) .
To deem (it) necessary.
(CmhI) 0,3 .O A.^y {CoUoquiai] It is not necessary at all.
{ Uttered in a harsh or rude tone } .
-632-
o
^OV Essential to i material to j also > incidental to.
{ ^it. ) Necessary for.
V i: ) V {, Si ^tig 3 To pocket ? Brook j
Swallow. ( hit, ) To pass it through one’s moustache.
flirt. ( originally means a female animal »
especially a bitch ) .
( Slang ) To pad it. To make a fuss, (hit.) To
put ( something ) inside it. ( crV = oT <S'i inside it or in
its folds ) .
O *
(3V To boast 1 brag » claim boastfully.
^ ’ Self-praise, (j-it.) Exaggerated boasting.
^ o ^
wlsf*V Having no Bible i /. irreligious or impious, ^ For
explanations > both for this item and for the next j see
Note under 0>rV on page 631 } .
j'iJ'V {.Slang) Ill-mannered i ill-treating; also, unprincipled.
word) To (go to) bye-bye ; go to bed.
^fVy To lullaby. - h To lull a baby
to sleep.
3^8 5 !^
F. T. He did not say a word j he
remained absolutely silent.
^ote. The original shape of f*r U fV 3! was perhans
’ rv j i . e. any word between the letters 1 and k ,
or I--* 31 i. between the lips and the mouth—
the motive for the corruption having been the propensity
to make a rime.
^ o ^
pucker one s lips» as a baby beginning to cry.
To keep silent. ( Lit. ) To close one’s lips.
Up to the brim. {Used adjectivally) Brimfuli
filled to the brim ( also )
-63a-
0*5^^ jI wJ C } To pour over the edge. { '-r^
means “ flown over the edge ” } .
JT J To refresh oneself. ( . ) To wet one^s lips.
^ji j) v^J T, To lead up to the bank
. *
of a river » and return thirsty ( f. to be very shrewd
or clever ) .
To overflow > run over, .) To pour over the edge.
To cause to overflow. Cf. 0^
hyJ To taste. (L//.) To touch with the lipg .
y IJ iSJaf^g'} To curtail (or cat) one’s wordsi
draw in one’s horns. ( ) To sew in its edge > hem in.
(^Slan^') He was disconcerted or disappointed.
His lips became thick. Cf. t-rl<>-y j
To bite one’s lips {/. to regret j feel remorse) .
Note. “To bite one’s lips” means in English (accor¬
ding to the Oxford Dictionary ) to control one’s anger”^
which is different fiom the sense conveyed by the P phrase.
vAiS ji J ( Slaflg } He pulled a long face j
he was down in the mouth i his countenance fell. (Lit,)
He hung his chops. C^. oiJf'
O 2^
cJ etc. ( See under )
OA jlj ^ C.J { Slang } To make fritters of. {means
“ a sheet ” > and is a contraction of “ torn ” } •
^ To bear one a grudge.
( Sometimes ^ ^ } .
To be obstinate .
To fling mud at i disgrace, (Ut. ) To rub
or cover with mud.
j^. {Contemptuous and obsolescent epithet of} woman.
( Lit, ) One who wears a fichu.
To rob. To fleece or flay. ( Lit. ) To strip (of
one’s clothing ) i make naked .
- 634 -
y* ) To enjoy or relish. To take pleasure
in. To be delighted in.
Ojl—) To give pleasure or enjoyment. To delight.
To be delicious.
He was filled with horror i he began to
shudder. ( Lit . ) A shuddering or trembling sensation
came upon his body.
j> To speak frankly or point - blank. ( )
To speak like the Lurs. {See the first pvb, on page 55).
3^ -E> 2^
jMi oila) Thank you very much, {l-it. ) May your
kindness be ( ever so ) great.
To do kindness. [In polite conversation^ To give,
^jtju 1 ) It is not nice or decent \ it is not proper.
2 ) It lacks point.
To be injured or damaged. —
[Colloquial'] He incurred a great loss. (The vulgar often
use for )
or [With or j','} To injure or
damage. To cause a serious interruption to.
To glaze or enamel. ( Figuratively ) To embel¬
lish i also ) enrich with details.
, , , ji Cu rse on . . . ; Damn . . . !
3^8 * ^8
or To become looser as a tooth. To be addled,
* 3S^
[Colloquial') To make sarcastic remarks,
(j*^ loghaz or loghoz is a puzzle or riddle ) .
To Stumble* trip* take a false step.
( Figuratively ) To blunder * fall into
error.
- 635 -
To nullify. To cancel.
{^Sl afig'j (1) To lengthen out with tiresome details.
( Usually. ( 2 ) To fuss.
wUaI, [Slang'^ To sponge on others.
\^ o \ Word for word i verbatim.
Bookish or pedantic language^ also? written language.
( ) Language of the pen.
V-/? A fortune j a good round sum. ( lit. ) \ morsel
rich in fat.
* ^.jSJifJiP :>l \j <aa1 { Add } ;
( t. e, to speak > or do a thing ? in a roundabout way ) .
O ^S-J To speak > or do a thing ? in a
roundabout way. ( L//. ) To turn the morsel round one’s
head. Cf, the preceding entry.
To break in morsels ( or pieces) . To eat in
mouthfuls. Cl. <**1
^jjir Aas) a choking morsel ( or bit ) i a morsel too large
for one’s mouth » a gag. ( Figuratively ) An espouse too
high in social rank .
<.CiA) To break in morsels. To make a mince-meat of.
To become spotted. To stain.
vlB Of To stain or soil.
To become spotted ? as fruit .
Note. This is used also in the idiomatic phrase
•ij <lU (He is dying for such and such
a thing ) where means “ liver ” .
{Colloq uial'jTto stare. ( means staringly} .
To Btammer : said of the tongue.
■» sS
Dilapidated i tumhledown, {Sawf as (j—^ ) .
Jjt ■» 8^
- 636 -
iji jJ* *iU J ( Slang ) To lag behind.
JO 4_0' Stain on one’s reputation. ( Lit. ) The stain of
disgrace or infamy.
<cr To trot.
_ ^ o ^
To make minor repairs (in) . To dryclean or
dryclcanse. ( Lit. ) To remove stains or spots (from) .
To kick. (Figuratively) To kick (or recalcitrate)
against rules > etc. i kick over the traces.
To forfeit one’s chance i he self -
destructive. ( Lit. ) To kick one’s luck .
To be kicked j receive a kick.
To kick. To recoil. {Figuratively) To recalcitrate.
t.^^5 To tread on j trample.
To trample.
o ^
[Colloquial^ To swallow without chewingj devour.
To suck like an old man without teeth.
sSs o
J;?’- To get the hang of something» acquire?
Or get into i the knack of something > know the ropes.
[ Colloquial } To lounge or loll.
^ wAi) To grumble.
( Colloquial } Lanky. {This word also means an
unfledged young bird } .
3^ O 35^
( CoIIoquial } Giant 1 giant-like person.
303 <> 2^
( 1 ) To throw up the sponge i give in i also »
hold up the olive-branch. ( 2 ) To make it up between
two persons. ( Lit. ) To throw the loincloth or waistcloth
( as was customary among wrestlers or pugilists ) .
“637-
To cast anchor i come to anchor. ( Pi^ufa -
lively ) To halt.
To overbalance.
O sS
C...XJ To become lame. ( figuratively ) To have no
facilities or means to work > be paralyzed.
To make lame. (Figuratively) To paralyze. To
stop or interrupt. {Intransitively} To halt or linger.
Ill-matched i ill - mated.
^ ^
To betray. Example : y b c— i.*
2 ^ •£>
( Colloquial ) To be misappropriated or
dissipated. (Fit,) To be eaten by rogues.
To be generous i also » be lavish of one’s
money. To be of a forgiving attitude.
Note, Although is a pederast or rogue » it has
come to mean ? in popular usage > a man of generous or
forgiving disposition.
iS^J^ A scarecrow. ( Lit. ) A bugbear at harvest.
( Figuratively ) a figurehead.
{ Colloquial } To toss ? as in bed.
{ lah'e ) or iS ^ in favour of i for.
< To crush. To squeeze. To mash. To tread. To slur
or elide. ( See j below )
{Colloquial } To pant. To yearn.
{ Slang } Smashed into Smithereens. means
crushed or squeezed (see o^J' and is a corruption
of *.?->>*->• — contraction of <.51^1^ — sweetmeat made
with ground sesame ( *•>->! ) ) .
638 -
jUcJ ^ Colloquial } Bitter or cutting words.
( Colloquial ) To discharge viscous and putrid
excretions ; said of a sore or wound.
To slide. To slip. (means slippery) .
* sS
{Colloquial To hop.
,^VM! {^Slarig'] To spoil a person by giving
too much importance to him> give him airsi also? bear his airs.
( ColIoqNJaJ } He was struck dumb i he was stu¬
pefied. S$6 bclow^
otc To be astonished or stupefied. (At chess} To be
checkmated, in Arabic means ‘ (to be) dead ’ } ,
JT oU To (check)mate. To mat. To stupefy.
To be in mourning.
To mourn { for or over ) .
5!^ {^olloqtaal } To kiss.
2^ O $
pMT J-to-'L To sum up. ( Lit. ) The result or summary
of the conversation.
* 8 ^
C^J A T. Your mother - in-law likes you.
( Said to one who arrives just in time to eat with others
at a table } - a superstitious belief.
Note. By *‘mother-in - law” j as used here» is meant
one’s wife’s mother.
*5
“639-
C—1 He is disposed to do it i he is of that
type. ( , ) His matter ( i. essence ) is apt for il.
< 3 - 3 ^
o .0^ ^)l ^1 [ Add the iallowing £. E. } ;
Vi^e desire hut one feather out of your goose.
{S*3^ Snake in the grass ; wolf in sheep’s
clothing) impostor or hypocrite. {Ut.) Snake having
beautiful stripes and spots.
OuTv^f ^ We are the sands at the
bottom of the river j while others are the flowing water
(^. Wc) and not the others? are constant and faithful)
{ Coiloquial } Xo draw in one’s
horns. Xo settle down. (Z#//.) Xo pour one’s yoghurt into
a bag ( which is done in order to let the watery part
of it drip ) .
It’s a good knife i it will cut butter
when tis melted j or ? it is a good knife? ’ twas made at
Dull-edge. (Lit,) It doesn’t cut ( even ) yoghurt.
( Colloquial ) Xo slur over. ( Lit. ) Xo rub
yoghurt on.
C.i-1 jji J AS" F. T. Xhe vessel shows
that the/>yoghurt is sour. See w-1 <r ^L- etc.
{Originally from o-U “yoghurt”) To be
congealed or coagulated. .{ Used in the slang idiom
Nothing doing — expressing the refusal of a request) .
One who has a finger in every pie ? a busy¬
body. ( Lit. ) Vetch used in any kind of pottage.
To type or print. Xo crop ( hair ) ,
^wOVl^ Slang ) Xo give a good dressing ( to ) .
(Lit, ) Xo rub together.
- 640 -
I- -,.i T. It doesn’t belong to an orphan. ( Said
„ Y • -’"W
to a guest who abstains from eating J .
E, E. What^s hers is mine j what’s mine is mine own.
^ o
\^(2ollO{^ui£tl'\ To have a gnawing sensation : sa id
of the stomach.
<!t
c.*-l caJL-A ( Si ang } It is null » it doesn’t count. Start
( at ) scratch. Throw the cards in. ( extension ) It is
cancelled .
There is no objection to it» it is in order » there
is nothing against it. means an obstacle) .
©I—A [^Slang) Out of this world : exquisite. (Lit,) Moon.
Fond of. Inclined to. — J:h» Yellowish.
<0La It is not expensive or difficult. ( here
means “ capital or funds ” } .
<)LcJ <oLo At cost.
M • H
^ The source of man’s life
{or livelihood) is the belly.
Note, has come to mean in modern colloquial
P. “pleasure or luxury”? and hence the popular explana-
tion of this hemistich amounts to “The source of plea¬
sure for a man is eating ” .
<jL ( Colloquial } To lay money? outlay? pay.
4jIa \y^tth To invol ve ( some one ) in trouble
by underhand methods. here means perhaps “ yeast ”) .
* sCs
LU C With the St ress on the Urst syllable} 1) Lest i
in case. Ex am pi e .>-!?• Don’t go too
near ? in case you fall. 2) {Used as a noun} . Example:
64l-
31 ( just ) in case i for the sake of precaution.
Rainy day ( itguralive sense ) . 3) (a) i>T bL^
Be careful you don’t mention it. (h) bl^ Do
not fail to come.
ith } To fight > campaign against.
^ s> ^
1) Best wishes for. Exampie : eljL.*
Happy New Year ! Best wishes for Nowrooz. 2) I congra¬
tulate you for i I wish you good luck for.
2^ {> aSs
wjIaLa { W^ith <i ) To take pride in.
2^ -0- 3^
{W^ith 1 ) Suffering from j affected l>y. 2) Addic¬
ted to i given to, 3) Enamoured of.
^ <s
^^1^ To give generously . To accord . To allow. -
c-s-b He spared no effort i he made every effort.
To exonerate or acquit. To exempt.
To strike dumb > astonish or amaze
^ <s ^
{W^ith 31) To follow > obey > submit to.
^ txA Of tzA To touch or move.
^ <s
0*A*- \With To take model from i imitatei follow.
*2v8 -H- 2^
vJiAm To feel sorry. To be grieved.
That first springs to the mind. ( means
“ making haste to get the start ” ) .
More than i exceeding.
J-O^cLO To support or bear. To suffer. To sustain or
incur. Example ■
sC? jC?
41
- 642 -
jT To point out. To remind. ( Lit. ) To remember.
•»
jx* To weaken. ) To shake.
To resort.
\With 31} To be thankful or grateful to.
V Confusion broke out in the
meeting. ( l^H. ) To be convulsire .
$ * o
To take possession of.
Connected. Adjoining. Continuous. [Colloquially'] =
'XaiA Of Continually. — 0**^ To be connected. —
To connect or join.
j j^a2A To incur a loss. To lose (a specified amount) .
$ * 2^
To comprise. To enclose. To entail.
2^ 2SS
^ Seeming or professing to be .
2^ <}• 2^
Subsequent to.
2 ^ ^ 2^2
^2:>Li To fill with wonder.
To be surprised » wonder.
2 ^ 2^8
j wIku [W^ilh To resort ta (a specified excuse ) ,
To prevent some one (from doing a thing)*
interfere with him » also i molest or disturb him,
2S -O 2^
O Belonging to. Example : The
book belongs to me.
2 S 2 *
0*^ ^*2^ To get angry. To be filled with indignation.
2^ O 2^
-643-
^ To differ from,
J jA2a To be dispersed or scattered. ™ or
To disperse.
2^ O 3^
tm
jAZb Miscellaneous i sundry. {Originally feminine of
scattered or dispersed } .
t To agree on (or upon ) .
To be allied j form an alliance.
2S? O 2^
^iXm To ( begin to) think » reflect.
2^
wtclfiiA Of ^ To convince. To pension off.
Q*Xm hAcl&u To be convinced. To be pensioned off.
2^ * 2^2
To undertake. To support.
4 ^**^ To support some one. {^Oiten
0>y. .
* '•-j' o (vfc* { the
following E. E. } ;
Correction givet understanding.
Sole speaker » f. one who does not give others
a chance to speak. { Originally from. A grammar where
it means “first person singular .
[^ith To rely on (or upon); base oneself on.
^ o ^
v^>UiA [Slang'} Quip; clever hit; sarcastic remark. { Oiten
in the phrase ^ PJg was loaded with quips} .
{Perhaps corruption of diminutive of used in
the sense of a little parable or anecdote}.
Fickle ; versatile i capricious. { Lit, ) Having
temperaments of various colours ( /. e. kinds ) .
2^8 2^2
-644-
To be inclined.
^ y jAiA To centralize. To concentrate.
To hold} resort to.
2^ * 3^
C.*»l {In polite conversation = ) I shall be
glad if you will . . . j I request you to . . .
2^ •» SjS
To give a lesson or warning (to) .
jaHa \With 31} To hate \ be disgusted with.
2g8 <3- 2^8
To remind or notify. To aim i fix i level (at).
( W^ith <; J To turn to i face. — (ol )
I did not take notice ( of it ) .
2^8 <3- 2^8
C?^^*** To frighten.
JwAm To be frightened .
2^8 O 2S8
^ To cause to be inflated or inflamed.
To be inflated. To swell i be inflamed.
2^ O 2^8
To resort toi have recourse to i take refuge in.
(11^/7/? 31} To expect.
258 ■» SS
To stop*, come to a standstill. To stay. To cease
{of suspend ) payment i be insolvent.
2^ O 258
O 4j 4^ {Add'] : To strain a gnat, be overnice.
258 <5- 358
{^iih <;} To accuse of.
^wC { With <i] To be accused of.
258 * 358
yT As easy as winking i as easy as ABC.
( ^^7. ) Like drinking water.
7 ?* To shed floods of tears. [Li^,) To weep
like a spring cloud.
- 645 -
viAiil JIa Very clear or limpid. ( Lit. ) Like tears.
^a-*r J j\j\ jio To burst inlo tears. ( Lit, ) To burst like
a pomegranate .
C ^ tP*) It looks as if.
aI—> To pass as lightning > fly as an arrow.
( Lit. ) To go like wind.
wUJ Jio To tremble {or quake ) like an aspen leaf
(}it, willow) .
yL^T Of dazzling beauty. ( Lit. ) Like the rays
of the sun.
JU As thin as gossamer. ( Lit. ) Like onion-skin.
Containing a medley of things. (Lit.) Like
a beggar’s sack.
Jio To be trumpeted (or noised) abroad
( Lit. ) To sound like a gun.
(Smashed) into smithereens. (Lit.) Like London
rocket seeds.
To be struck all of a heap i be
stupefied. (Lit.) To get stuck in the mud like an ass.
Neat» tidyi dapper? smart. (Lit.) Like a bouquet.
To spend like water (lit. sand) ,
To cite an example or proverb. To relate a parable.
Bitter as gall. (Lit.) Like snake’s poison.
To regret very much. (Lit. ) To regret
like a dog ( after having covered a bitch ) .
Nerveless? apathetic? phlegmatic? unfeeling.
( Lit. ) Like a potato.
^ ( lAmJ ) <r As like as two peas
(in a pod) . (Lit.) Like an apple cut in halves.
lT i^jUlSla f^g'} Wishy - washy. (Lit.) Like an ass’s urine.
^ ^Colloquial ) Cruel as Nero? Neronian. ( Lit. )
Like Shemr (slayer of Ems^m - Hosseiu ) ,
” 646 ”
^ To mix well with each other. (Lit J) To
he like milk and sugar. Cf, the E. ‘ to he hand and
glove ( or hand in glove) with each other *.
^ At daggers drawn i extremely hostile. ( Lit, )
Like knife and cheese.
Dry as dust i dry as a hone y dry as a stick.
( Lit. ) Like a match.
1 ) Bald } as a coot, 2 ) As a mushroom ( uith
re erence to grout h ) . (Lit, ) Like a squash or gourd.
1 ) Like a leech ( with reference to sticking ) .
2 ) Very importunate. ( L\t , ) Like a tick (small hlood •
sucking insect ) .
Pale as ashes i deadly pale. (Lit, ) Like gatch or
plaster of Paris.
^Irritated and ( hence ) ready for
revenge. (Lit.) Like a shot wolf.
JjiT Ji* Like a shot ( or bullet ) .
iV JiA Honeycombed. (Lit.) Like bees’ nest.
^ ( Swarming ) like locusts » numerous.
( Lit, ) Like ants and locusts.
w I ,(^^0 Wet to the skin j dripping wet. (Lit,)
Like a rinsed mouth.
OliC) As easy as shelling peas > as easy
as winking. ( Lit. ) As drawing a hair out of yoghurt
(coagulated sour milk) .
Like a thief’s ladder ( /. e. lanky or tall ).
To mutilate by way of exemplary punishment.
jA) {Colloquial) Useful or efficacious. (Lit.) Fruit¬
ful i bearing fruit.
To confute y defeat in a controversy.
To carry out or enforce.
358 * 858
K$ ^ To Separate. To segregate.
647 -
Xo be incarnated or personified. To be imagined.
To see in one’s imagination. To personify or
incarnate.
Of ^ To hold {pt call ) a party.
^ To equip. To mobilize.
{Slang] To flatter or cajole.
Note, seems to be a corruption of “ great
or honourable ” ? in which case the phrase would mean
“ to call ( one ) great ” .
0^^{Colloquial] To crumple (up) .
Ct
To catch one in an act. To check one by
discovering the untruth of his statements. ( l^tt, ) To
seize one by the wrist.
{Slang] Disappointed* balked* disconcerted.
^To plead * reason ( together ) .
{Often uith 31 ) To protect.
To try ( judicially ) .
2 ^ < 3 - ^
( Add the folloutng E. E. ) ;
A beggar’s purse is bottomless .
{ often uith <;} To be kind to.
It is needless to mention.
^ ^IzpcA To render needy > reduce to poverty.
To need some one’s help.
<3- O
P rX^M To honour or respect.
- 648 -
I I have the honour to inform you i
I beg to inform you.
<z5j c*mti He has (or is) probably gone. — w—
He is liable to get sick.
To limit. To bound. To define.
^ To establish or confirm. To prove,
sS? -a-
Confidant i initiate.
Sy^ith 31^ To deprive of.
To carry to account. To charge. To reckon .
sjs <5- 8^
The gathering - place of mankind on the day of
judgment. (T^t gur at i vely ) Great multitude. [Often uith
the epithet the great ’’ ) .
[Oolloquia2) To perform (a specified act) won¬
derfully well. To be a prodigy ( of a specified thing ) .
See hi the preceding entry.
5yS -Q- ^
{ Merely ) for the sake of.
To be reserved . Ex ample ; c—!
Copyright leserved . ( Lit. ) To be protected.
Is»^A5>(;a To reserve. To protect.
or To ascertain or verify.
To test or assay i put to the touch. ( Lit, ) To
apply the touchstone to.
To make firm i fasten. To secure.
0=®y'"rrCPM> To hold fast. (Figuratively) To observe strictly.
- 649 -
To be condemned i lose the case. To be adjudged
( to pay a sum ) .
To condemn or sentence . To adjudge . —
I) • ■ • Adjudged to pay. . . 2) f-*^!
Sentenced to death.
2^ * SS
C-olSl /JPM Residence.
Jae« {\Vith <; ) To take heed of i give heed to j pay
attention to. — jL Jsc.* They paid no attention to him.
Notes. ( 1 ) The last phrase has a slang variant :
jL ciC- /. e. They paid no attention to him j
even as much as is paid to a dog. . . ( 2 ) ori¬
ginally means “ to grant (one) a place or position ” .
To be effaced or obliterated. To disappear. To be
eliminated. — O'^ {Figuratively ) To be fascina¬
ted by something.
^ 3s>caTo wipe outi obliterate) efface. To cause to disappear.
To devolve » turn over i delegate.
-o
To address i speak to.
{ With h ) To be opposed to i disagree with »
not agree to.
JT c^aIUca ( With h ) ( Same as the preceding ) .
To shorten or abridge. To cut short. To ab¬
breviate.
^ <r
S>rA^ To derange i throw into disorder.
Be it known to all. {Lit.) Let it not remain hidden
^ o ^
To disturb some one i intrude upon
him {or his privacy ) .
Uyi Your devoted friend j I.
- 650 -
iyla) Free from inirusion. Unceremonious i free.
To have the option to . . . Example : hi j>
O’^'h He has the option to go or stay.
^ To act moderately or cautiously,
^ JU"* To persevere i keep.
jS* To flatter i oil the tongue.
3^ -O' 3^
^,^ 3 ) To be in fashion ( or fashionable ) . {**-• is a
French word } . — { Colloqui al } To bring into
fashion . — 0^^ To be out of fashion.
45* CiMit ^ju JU OJU or 4f c*Mif l^JU It is a long time since.
t With the stress on the second syllable'] For some
time i also ? for a long time.
3^ <5- 3^8
To prove or demonstrate.
3^ * 3^
To owe.—To be indebted to some one.
3^ <3- 3^
I Discussions took place i conversations
were held. ( The singular of '^L /I ■h is .^ 10 .) . ■
^ oTo hold a conversation » talk » ( with Of
^ ) discuss. To negotiate.
^ <s ^
Mentioned above i above-mentioned? aforesaid.
3?8 -a- aji
3j‘^ o ja' The above (-mentioned) facts or circum¬
stances . (The singular of which is means
( 1 ) time (2) storey ) .
3^8 <3- 3^
*^3 jA^ Please refer to ... .
<m^\ja'^ To refer > [u'ith <; } call on i approach > also?
consult ( a physician ) .
3 ^ 0 ^
-651 -
0 *To suffer hardship.
T*olcl jA* To observe or regard. — ^
To assist some one.
20? *
»> To quarrel. To carry On a lawsuit.
$ < 3 - 2 ^
Attentive or watchful. — ^ ^ 1 ^-* See that
he does not go to sleep.
^ To supervise. To watch or observe. To ensure.
To look after (usually with } .
8^ o aO?
CmmJ It does not concern me. means
“ connected > partaining i relevant » concerned .
20? $
fc-J jA* To put in order j arrange i give good shape to.
20? -O' 20?
(wof/^ 7 /< 5 ? ’-) Of ^ eliminate or remove.
20? * 20?
To commit a crime.
20? 20?
Thank you (very nuch). ( Lit. ) May
your favour be great.
To do favour. To be kind. (/« polite con¬
versation ) To give ( 0^1-5 ) .
20? -& 20?
• • • The late. . . ( Such a one ) of blessed memory.
See the next entry,
^To pass awayi die. (Lit.) To receive (God’s) mercy.
20? -O- 20?
yit* To be dismissed. To go.
To dismiss J send away. To excuse. To relieve.
To release ( from the customs ) . — Please
allow me to leave.
20? * 20?
To be generous or manly i act like a genlleman.
c-J . He is not equal > or adequate » to the task >
he is not the man for it.
- 652 -
Note, The variant —:* ol’V O'-' goes farther) as
it means literally *‘He cannot fight in this field ’’ .
aJL.* P. T, At the age of forty
a man only just begins to have bis fling.
Motes. ( 1 ) means in colloquial language
“ foolishness » silly acts ? etc. *’ There is a kind of pun
in this saying in view of the words Jtr or J**^ and
( 2 ) The saying is aimed at justifying the acts of 40 - year-
old men who marry? or are inclined to women.
^tc. ( Add the iollotvin^ ) ;
Cf. the E. If things were to be done twice? all would be wise.
{Colloquial } Clever. Selfish. Cheeky.
F. T. A true man gives his head?
but does not betray the secrets confided to him.
jA To be inhumane ( or cruel ) to others ?
torment people .
jA See Note under c .—^ j ^
* * $
Weak and sickly i worn-out. ( Lit. ) Dying i mori¬
bund i also } doomed to die .
o
To be rejected. To fail ( in the examinations ) i
be turned down.
To reject. {At school ) To turn down.
! • • . Down with . . . , ! {Lit.) May. . . be dead !
JJ^o^jA (One) who frequents ceremonies where they give
out charity for the soul of the dead. {Lit.) Necrophagous.
^ {Colloquial'^ Confound him ! Fie on him!
Plague on him {or it ) ! {Lit.) May he be carried away
by a *^.y*) for the explanation of which refer to
page 3 7 2 ).
jmmA ( Col loqu i al } To die for some one i love
him very much. {Usually ^ ^ } .
He is not fitted for this work J he is not
-dSJ-
eqUal to the task » he is incapable or inefficient. ( hit^ )
He is not the bird than can pick this fig . ^ee the
pvh, ^ etc.
» aM l» vib ( Add the followi^ 2 g ) ;
Cf. the E. You are like a cuckoo> you have but one song.
{ Add the followifig E. E. ) ;
Where men are all used well > they’ll frequent there.
jC,. , , , j jjt> F. T. Death is as good as a feast
for . . . t Said of a very unhappy person } .
» <UL-«A J> c^\ Ji>. ( Add the followifig E, £. ) :
All men think all men are mortal but themselves,
o jjjijj 0.^1^ 0^4^ { Add the following E. E, ) :
Every door may be shut but death’s door.
aS^ * $
Rare'I To wish one good luck. ( is a
good omen ) .
o &
Process of time i lapse of time. — In
course (or process of time). — 0^^ J J.r* Time-barred »
barred by statute. — Statute of limitations.
aS? * 3^
jA To apply an ointment ( to ) .
• • . ^ Indebted to. . . . for his favours ( or
kindness ) .
To be confined to bed > be bedridden.
» How is your health ? How are your^
{ means temperament > also » condition of hea Ith) .
qaJ" To joke or jest.
^ ^
To be intrusive t inconvenience or molest ( some
- 654 -
one ) , — f*^ I am sorry to interrupt (or in¬
convenience ) you.
To speak nonsense. To use offensive or abu¬
sive language.
E, E, If you pay not a servant his
wages > he will pay himself.
F, T, If there is no wages for me > I have a chance for
stealing.
Note. :>ji , which originally means “ a thief ”» has
been used here for stealing ” ) » perhaps to make
a rime with wages ” .
To taste a little at a time
{Colloquial'^ To crack {ot cut) a joke.
^ji}i> Oy-A To taste something. ( Figuratively ) To
undergo or experience something.
^ some one’s pulse. ( Lit. ) To
find out the taste in his mouth,
Note, A variant form replaces by “ to
taste ” .
To taste. {Jut f attsitively'^ To be eaten with relishi
be delicious. { Figuratively ) To be interesting.
QyXm To aggravate the condition. {Lit.) To increase
the defect. { also means “ cause or reason ” } .
• • • I shall be ( ever more )
grateful if ... .
^ ) To add to or increase.
858 * 5 ^ 35 ?
^ polite or formal conversation^ To seal
or sign ( in speaking to » or of > dignitaries ) . ( l-it. )
To decorate or adorn.
>iote. The common form simply means
to decorate or adorn.
sSs O 858
-655-
To tip some one for glad tidings brought by him.
To give glad tidings (to) ,
O o 2^8
{^Oftev with To assist j aid r or favour.
o^LhA {^W^ith To make an advance to.
^ <ps*LiiA‘^ To be indulgent. To neglect.
y Equal to. Same as.
3^ * 2 ^
CmmJ < 2 )LiJ It is unprecedented or unparalleled.
To let know j inform i give to understand.
To become helpless or poor > be driven to
extremities. To be brought to bay.
To render helpless ? drive to extremities .
To bring to bay.
sS? o
OiJ" To except or exclude ? make an exception of.
To inform. Example: ^
I beg to inform Your Excellency that.
-O 2^
Dead drunk » blind drunk.
rlote. A variant form is —* where means
foolish.
3^ * 30t
^jimA To return or refund. To ask to be returned.
CmmA To get drunk) be intoxicated. ~ 0 . 5 To make
drunk i intoxicate . ( Etguratively ) To elate, { Intran¬
sitively and colloquially ) To brawl) as a drunkard.
{ To resign.
sjt * 2^
jK mt A Absorbed in. ( Ett. ) Drowned in.
aC? * 2^
Not needing. Example : <^*-1 It needs
— 656 —
not be
described j it is beyond description.
To be benefited. To be delighted.
Necessitatingi requiring. Ex ample: c—i
It calls for ( or involves ) certain expenditure.
(Same as
i^Hh being veiled
“sitting at home ” ) .
or
” for
li cU.
. r *i
U ** " ‘ “ *
eU.
4 :
O *
y, } To seize > fill with. Example :
jl ^ u^y He was filled with terror.
^ -H-
( Colloquial } Gay or tipsy. Jolly or merry.
^ ^ <3- 8 ^
To play the buffoon ( or fool ) ,
To play the buffoon. To do monkey
business.
To mock > ridicule; laugh at ; make a fool of.
3^ <3- aS
C»^C«6 To leave unsaid. To put in abeyance.
^OlU To fall into abeyance. To be left unsaid.
Note. A variant form of jn ^he last two entries
is cp oyiwi ( maskooton - anh. ) ,
laJ-fcA [With y) To rule over. To get mastery of,
or To take for granted.
To prove or establish .
<3* $
To poison. To infect.
^ <s ^
C ^iang ) Copper vessels (and the like ) .
To make a rough copy of i draft i prepare
in the rough.
- 657 -
To hold responsible.
OA/ To see home > see to the door. To accompany
or escort.
sSt sSt
J'X ( Compound slang} Tangible. ( Lit. ) That can
fill one’s hand ( or fist ) .
To receive a blow with the fist.
{^S1 a^g'^ Water poured on a drowned mouse i
a kick to the fallen ( which is an unnecessaryi additional
blow) » also ) a kick in the pants. (L;/.) A blow with the
fist at one’s buttocks > a spank.
Note. This is originally a blow on the fat tail of
a slaughtered sheep which the butcher inflates to render
the flaying easy.
To strike with the fist. To box.
To take a handful of. To take up by handfuls.
To clench one’s fist, (hit,) To m ake a knot
of one’s fist.
Consisting of t containing t comprising.
To Specif y or define. To distinguish. To ascertain.
At the point of death.
[^ith ) To overlook or command. {V^/th ^ }
To be at the point of. See
2^2 <5- 2^
ith ^ ) To be honoured by a visit to.
Jid>#> (/n polite conversAtioti^ It was nice having
you. (Keply to a guest who bids farewell ) . ( hit, ) You
have honoured ( us by your visit ) .
^Ci>! jioi On condition that i provided ( that ) .
^^^Ji^'^To the effect that. Stating or indicating that.
42
-6S8-
'to be delighted or pleased.
sjs * O
,JjAiA' Busy . . . Example -. Busy reading.
To get busy i busy ( Of employ ) oneself.
^ To keep {or niake ) busy. To amuse.
{Used as an adverb } Hardly. Example : JS^
He can hardly walk > I don’t believe he can walk.
wC 1) JSJU It is no clearer than it was i you have made
it more difficult. {^iL) The difficulty has been doubled.
Liable to j falling under > subject to.
To poison r infect j or taint.
Example :
^ J ( With L ) To consult.
?5; u *
^ To disturb.
^wUi To become famous i celebrate oneself.
C With \ ) To interview.
{With L) To fall on. nieans *<coincident
or concurrent ”} .
* *
jJLaa, - <iCj jJU^ Seasonings. - jJU. Building mate¬
rials. - jJU* The interests of the State. (^11-.- i* the
plural of “ policy ; affair ” , etc. ) .
<sJLaa' ( With 1; ) To compromise with. To agree to
exchange with.
sCk * sS?
To prove {or be) applicable i apply.
^ <s ^
To inconvenience or trouble some one >
intrude on some oriels privsey.
- 659 -
j-Ac'' ( With or ) To insist on ’» hold to.
{^also 0**'J ^ To consume or use. To
dispose of.
To spend » use (time or effort ) .
8^ * 2^
Of To think (or deem) it advisable*
( (Oollo^u / al } Based on convenience . Rx aoi pi € i
^i9ri^* ( One who is ) conveniently deaf.
To resolve > determine i make up one’s mind.
To (re)double. To multiply,
^ i> ^
IdUa^'* In addition to the fact that.
20? <j-
<S>L^'' {With jl } To spare or withhold. To refrain
from (doing something) j refuse to (do it) .
20? -O' 20?
caJ’< To rinse the mouth with.
20? -t> 20?
To quip* make quips.
means “ to wind up or start ” } .
20? * 5^
,3;^' According to. Similar to. Corresponding to.
} To conform to > be similar to. To
correspond to.
O"^ J* 3?^"^ To compare. To (cause to) conform.
C^Uxti = |3»Uae
4&L£3« To correspond \ tally. ( ffausfttvely ) To
compare or check.
2^? -0 2S?
To claim or demand i also? to dun.
2^? 2^?
^ <ji)U3a'' To study. To consider. To peruse.
Q&/ r>“' To set ( forth for discussion) ? propound * lay
on the carpet.
^ 660 -
To grant some one’s request.
It doesn’t matter > it is a trifling matter? it is
all right, (-r*^ means “subject-matter* question? affair”).
To subjugate. ( L,H, ) To render obedient or
submissive ? cause to obey.
1 ) {(^ollo^uial'^ It seems ? probably. From the full
form (mazannatan) , which is the proper adverb).
2) { In business ) Price ruling ( or quoted ) V quotation.
To quote prices.
O’^J^ { Colloquial ) To obtain quotations ? inquire
about prices .
* 3 ^
[Sometimes with U, } Xo interfere with or
molest. To oppose .
To treat (medically ) ? give medical treatment
to. To cure.
To pay some one in his own coin.
( I->it, ) To transact with some one on similar terms.
To transact i do business. To deal. To sell.
AXoUa Reciprocity i reciprocal treatment.
JZmi To conclude ? or enter into ? a treaty.
*^1^' To examine or inspect. To examine medically.
To be addicted or accustomed to something ?
be given over to something i get the habit of something.
sSs o ^
C^ji^ <^) To object to ? oppose.
{ W^ith <;) To confess.
{With ^ ) To believe (in) . Example : ^
-661-
- (
(oif ) I believe that > I am convinced that.
To perform {of do) a miracle.
V WwU* To inconvenience or trouble .
3 ^
To apologize. - I tgg p^^..
don. I am sorry.
J^Sma To excuse.
To introduce. To present.—^ j*
Report to him at once.
3 ^ < 3 - 2 ^
C ^olloquial } To do a thing wonderfully well
{ usually <r^ ^
Motes, ( 1 ) <S 'which originally means a battle -
field] has come to mean “ the open space where jugglers
display their art ” . (2) The expression ■*^-'1 ^■ . . . jj
is very commoni and may be rendered “ He is a prodigy
* ■ * • ^ • <S jl may also be translated
“ He is a prodigy violinist ’’ .
1) {In polite conversation'] To say or state.
2) To submit > as a petition > etc.
Known as. Famous (of notorious) for.
To depose or dismiss. To discharge ( an attor-
’ relieve him of his power of attorney.
To be kept waiting. To be detained. To delay
or linger.
^ To det ain. To keep waiting. {Ifitfansitively ]
To delay or linger.
To be at a loss (as to what course one should
pursue ) , To be pinched for money.
^ Adverting to i with reference to.
- 662 -
To lurn or draw. Example : Ij Jle jWLi
ijl-V I beg to draw your attention.
To turn a soniersault.
CjijT Jiaa To suspend (from service) .
^8 < 3 - ^
1) It is certain. 2) Obviously? certainly.
To become known or obvious. To appear. To
prove. Example : o-i -iTT j\j >1 He proved to
know the secret? it was revealed that he knew the secret.
To make known. To ascertain or fix. To prove
or demonstrate.
It is uncertain i one cannot tell i nobody knows.
J>c^ To put into use {or practice ) . To do i prac¬
tise i effect.
JjoAa To put into practice ( or use ) . To introduce.
To popularize.
* sSs
45 **^ To explain ( the meaning of ) . ( Loosely ) To
translate or interpret.
jJO) 1 ) It has no meaning i it is nonsense. 2 ) The
idea ! (in this sense often ^ jj1.> }
J To delay i put off i postpone.
^a)UJ^*x»To be delayed. To be arreared i fall into arrears.
ty. -ct
To reason fallaciously > sophisticate.
<y ^
or Contrary toi inimical toi inconsistent with.
^1 To be contrary toj or inconsistent with.
To cheat (in busi ness ) ,
To make the most of ; avail oneself of.
jMA To kernel ; ripen into » or produce > kernels.
-663-
Cu-f He is a perfect ass i he is as stupid as an
ass. (L//. ) He has eaten the hrain of an ass.
variant form gives for
To shell > peel » Bleach (almondsi etc. ) .
Xo talk one*s head off. { Ltf, ) Xo carry
away one's Brains.
2 ^ *0
To Be in one’s Black list, To
(happen to) Be disfavoured By some one.
ALzIma To confuse different suBjects. To sophisticate
Xo talk rapidly with a misleading intent.
<3- O
jl CmAa Of tUAA To lose unluckily > give away
for no good cause, means “ gratuitous(ly) ” }
To have a narrow escape j also > go scot-free.
( ) To leap or escape free of cost.
Um So much the Better for you. Good enough for you.
c«a« I would not have it at a gift» it is not worth
a penny. ( L,it, ) Jt is not worth receiving gratuitously.
J sZM [Colloquial'^ For nothing) free of cost. Dirt-
cheap. ( L/V. ) Free of cost and within certain reach.
O 25 ? -O
[Colloquial'y =*z^ Gratis i gratuitous(ly) i free of cost.
2^ 2^
^^&AA [SJau^") Weakly or sickly i soft i timorous of pain i
also ) raw - Boned. (Figuratively) Good - for - nothing.
2^ O 2^
i.UaA^ To ( prove to ) Be useful.
2^1 <} 2>
Opposite (to) i vis-a-vis. Corresponding to. Against
{ usually ) .
JjU* [With To encounter or confront.
To compare s collate > or check.
2^ -Q- 2^
To have sexual intercourse j lie.
ty, <t tiL
— 664 —
ABout i near? close to. — JIj^l OJ^ About this
time. - ^ o->^ About noon.
{For <-bU*;J Xo award to a contractor » put
out to contract. contract (for).
^ o ^
CJiSyc-c^^Uc^ (With t) To resist or oppose.
. sS? -&
Of _j__
CJ>t^ means accepted ”, and, colloquially “pretty”).
To think fit ; see fit i deem advisable or
appropriate.
3^ -O' CS
^ To predestinate.
ji ^ ‘Aoa To be prior to.
ji-3b Oio' To give priority (to); consider prior. To prefer.
To build up a case or argument i set forth
an introductory statement serving as an excuse . ( <*Ai. jg
a premiss or introduction , and 0-^s- means “ to put
together ” ) . ^
or ^ ;* ^^ 1 ^ j ^ position to.
- .g , ^ ^
Jwto I To be reduced to confession.
sjs <3- 8^
j'jU' To prescribe; lay down; provide. To appoint or
fix. To arrange. To resolve.
To owe.
To run into, incur, or contract, a
True. (L/7. ) Connected or allied with truth.
Economical. Cf. the above entry
^ ty>
. . . Ji What does .... mean ?
f I mear
O
4 ■ * ■
-665-
1 ) I have no particular motive. 2 ) I don’
mean it.
sS * 8^8
To reside in. . . j be a resident of. . .
Slang } Cool i with no deductions. Ex ample :
a cool million.
O $
To contend or dispute.
8^ <3- O
<j Ka*' To correspond. (Lit.) To write to each other.
4 <JKa' To converse or talk.
^ <3- 8S
To make a pause. To stay.
{ W^ith jl} To take offence at.
2^ * 2^
vilo^ Colloquial'^ To suck.
To be bound.
uA&o To bind > charge with a (specified) duty.
* O'
I am not under the necessity (to do such
a thing) . { Ln, ) Am I on the point of being beaten on
the feet {or bastinadoed) ? Cf. the E. to be at the stake.
? CttMif 6fcAJ»jP^^Ub Have I been bitten by a mad dog ?
(^. I am not so mad as to do or say such a thing ) .
? Have your ships sunk ? (Said to
One who is sad or worried for no good reason } .
§ hA)t o^AaT c*Aib JTZa E, r. Were you a 7 - month
baby when you were born 7 (/. e, why are you so hasty 7 ).
EJote. It is believed that prematurely born babies
grow to become hasty and impatient.
2g8 *
vl To loaf about (or around) i loaf (or) idle away
one’s time j twiddle one’s thumbs. {Lit.) To fly flies.
-666-
^ There is not a soul there. (Lit,) Not
a fly flies in that place .
uT "j 1) To break fly on wheel. 2) To be
hard up : be very poor . 3) To beat the air. { Lit, ) To
bleed a fly in the air.
cMa Public view. — In the public view* in public.
^1- sS *
Circumspection.
^To observe or notice. To consider. To have regard
for. {In polite conversation) To see (often .
( With L } To involve necessarily.
{ With L} To be kind or affable to.
2 ^ <!■ 2^8
oliVU' ( often with t } To meet or visit.
3 ^ -0 2 ^
Dressed with » wearing.
2^8 O 2S8
To lake refuge > seek protection,
2 ^ o
^J^mt PjUa To be bound over i undertake.
4 ,^jii-p* Suite i retinue { Lit, ) Those who attend
( a dignitary ) at the stirrup.
^ C*aXiIo Take notice i mind ...» look out » beware.
( means aware or sensible } .
C*a:X* To take notice (of) . To understand.
2 ^ -0 2 ^
0.i^ ^3^ 3^^ {Si ^ng) To smack one’s lips > lick one’s chops.
2 ^ O 2 ^
To be seen or observed.
2^8 * 2 ^
To be bound.
To bind » oblige. To convince.
2^8 O 2^8
^ To annul or cancel.
-667-
. , , 4j Entitled . . . j surnamed. . . .
* sS?
hAiw I ( have ) mastered it. ( . ) It has Become my
second^ nature. {malakeh) means habit or second nature).
cAlp-J Ado Reigning beauty. ( Lit.) The queen of beauty.
To defile. To contaminate.
oLpIaa To condescend (flatteringly ) . To comply or
agree. ( Lit. ) To walk together.
To abstain ( from voting ) . Example : .r-*
There were 7 abstentions.
* *
It is possible; it could be. - *^1 He may
come. — * \j J.3 * 1 —I ^^,0 Would you mind closing the
door ? — c* It is impossible to cut it.
^ * * *
i or To prohibit or forbid. To
debar { with 31 )
^y^ith 31) To be grateful or obliged to. —
l**_^-*> U>£. Thank you very much » I am very*^ much obliged
to you. — r*^ I was much obliged ( of pleased ) .
OS*^ To oblige or please » render grateful.
( Childish or colloquial } Breast.
id To have a relation or connection. To be fit or
Opportune. To be based on some reason.
O o
oUUa To be irconsistent.
Inconsistent with > repugnant to > derogatory to . —
Unchaste act i criminal conveisation.
0*0
,yLl 4 By way of .
0*0
Reliable source i authority.
-668-
To ask a person’s favour 1 be beholden
to him for a favour.
remind some one of a favour done
to him 1 or reproach him for it.
C*i* To consider it an obligation or favour.
SSS * 8^
Ji To result from,
25^ To culminate or end in.
To influence i cause to follow or obey.
( Lis, ) To magnetize.
«
To look for an opportunity,
To keep waiting.
O'^ To wait for sohie one i await him.
\y^tth To profit or gain by » be benefited by,
<) To end} culminate > or result in.
* t>
• culminate in » result in.
To cause to deviate.
Kt
Unique » single in kind.
^.^apclc To restrict j confine > or limit.
20? iJ- 2^
To be dissolved . To break up. To wind up> as
a company.
lo dissolve. To disorganize. To wind up.
20^ t> 20s
JJ ^ Self - invented i new - fangled > eccentric.
Immethodical .
* ^ J ^ -^*5 L, Alas ! Fortune and
I are thinking two different things f [ Said by one who
has no hopes of his plans being carried out t or who has
been disconcerted in his hopes ) .
- 669 -
It
J>«' C often with To lodge or accommodale.
O * sS?
0*^ jiA To retire \ live in seclusion.
^ O ^
* i ^ ^
Ji ^ JU Free from. Superior to i above i beyond.
SS O 2^
(Wi^h -*;) To charge with. Cf.
* *
To be effective or valid. - ^‘1 ^
null and void.
To branch out {or off ) .
cijr To divide into branches.
sSk O
To give up the idea i change one’s mine
J To dispense with.
To dissuade.
To be appointed. Example
He was appointed chief ( or director ) .
2^ O
{With 1;} To conform to. To be applicable i
To coincide with.
To apply or conform.
To regularize J give good shape to > arrange.
2^ * 2^
jjlaU To appreciate; be grateful for. To reraembei
To allow fori make allowance for > provid
^^8^* To carry (into an account) .
Aimed at. Noticed. Accepted. Favourite.
2> * 3^8
To prohibit or forbid. { With 31 ) To check ;
prevent from doing ( a specified act ) .
2> 25 ?
To conclude * as an agreement. To hold* as j
meeting. To coagulate.
-670-
To be reflected. To have a reaction. To resound
y To reflect. To reverberate.
^ ^
To derive a benefit. To make a profit.
jTCMdA To make a profit i gain. To sell ( L be sold ) at
a profit .
^ ^
jJC JjiiU'* [Colloqu ial) To be ashamedi be put to shame.
jT J*aJy6 { Colloquial ) To put to shame.
sC^ -S' ^
To be contracted i shrink.
^jOfcAiA To contract i cause to shrink,
^To divide. — -^>V ^ It is divided into
or comprises t three parts.
^.iJa&*<&“** To elapse or expire. To become overdue.
uJUlo'* To be upset. To be touched. To be changed.
To become stormy .
Of wjla;^ To upset. To turn or change.
To revolutionize.
Kt t?.
Ap^mP ji Brought forward. {Lit. ) Carried from
the previous page.
ipta) A^An^l Carried forward. Sffs the above,
^ ^
To deny. To repudiate. To dispute.
[Colloquial) Giddy.
To be egoistic. To boast. To praise oneself.
( Lit. ) To say “ I am ” .
J.5 jr { Colloquial } To mutter.
- 671 -
cAJt { With <; } To depend on.
jOi 4p-l^' { Wtth L } To encounter i meet. To run up
against .
JijT { With j\ ) To take to task ; bring to book i
remonstrate.
tJ-
O To lose one’s equilibrium i be
off one’s balance.
To balance or equilibriate.
* Parallel to ( or with), {Colloquially
Equal or equivalent to.
To be careful > take care,
C *^1^0 To take care of > watch (over) > mind.
To take care of some one. To mind some
one i watch over him,
H 0AJ> To agree to ( a proposal > etc. ) . To agree
with ( some one ) .
^ above.
^ O * *
^ C-»lj J. My hair stood on end. (Lit. ) My hair
became straight on my body,
Note. A variant form is >^\j ^ <; ja
In detail i to a hair. ( Lit. ) Hair by hair.
^ o
• • • ^^T*?*^* To cause J occasion j or bring about . . .
^ * sS?
To swell ( with waves ) \ roll i surge. To have a
wavy appearance. To undulate.
To have in stock.
To become available. To come into existence.
^ ^
-672-
Liable to J exposed to, — Liable to prosecu*
tion. — Xo put to use. — >•
To inspect. ( L,it, ) To expose to inspection. — ^
^1 j jje ^gg forgiven.
SyS <} 8^
0*^“ j^o t l€SS oiten J>* >>*} To creep > have a
creeping sensation .
• • • ‘^ Called or named. . . .
O -o
ObAAMf" ^pf I )
$ fl-
To split hairs.
O ■& $
OJuUj ^iJC >0 To set intrigues on foot i lay a train. To put
a spoke in some one’s wheel > or queer his pitch .
( means either “ a little mouse ” according to its
literal sense? or a { 8ky-)rocket ? and means “ to
cause to run ” } .
^
QkXm To assume a plausible and sinless air. {Often
^/. e, to pretend to be a dead mouse}.
SC^ * 8^
<j Described as » qualified or characterized by. En¬
dowed with. Example : *- 1 ^ oLU;
^ O
Matter on hand » point at issue. [Use^i as an
adjective'] In question, Example : c-so
To deduct.
$ -n- 8^
<0 Bound to. . . Example ; • c^U <> bound
to pay..
f To charge { with a duty ) .
^
succeed in doing a thing? manage
to do it. *“ He failed » he did not succeed ( in
doing it) .
-673 -
{Colloquial lor At the tin.c ol , i„ i„,.c of.
During. - Yl'hen at the moment ti.at.
(*"«3 0 To avail oneself of the ojiportunily
' ' ' ^ The circumstances do not allow to
8^8 {} O
<) Depending , or dependent . on ; subject to.
Oai To be cancelled. To be abolished. To be stopped.
To abolish. To cancel. To stop.
. . . <0 \jS'jt It depends on ... i it is subject to. . . .
JjTJo To postpone ,
. . . ^
It the scale) is in perfect equilibrium.
Bore; gooseberry; also, intrusive person, (i/7.)
A hair in the nose. See c,-^ on page 382.
is very frightful; be is a nonslcr.
>t.) He has on his body the hairs of the Angel of Death
jV^o To halter. To moor. ( I'iguratively ) Xo control
Or subjugate .
C *; } To be kiml to; do kindness to.
io sealjonc’s lips.
^ ^ lemove the seal from something.
To seal i set one’s seal to (also )
^ ^
j The marriage-portion
doesnt amount to anything; much less “ one - eighth ”
of it. Cf, ^ etc,
^ ote, , s_- * Qj. ijjg ^ word o*'' is one-eighth of a
man’s estate which is inherited by his widow in case she
has children.
jOT /;. T. I „ai^e the m
Oil/ jXi cJJb
urriage - portion
43
-674-
due me j but crave for the immunity of my life. { Said
by a woman who wishes to be granted a divorce » and
prefers being sent away portionless to staying in her hus -
Rand’s house and leading a miserable life } .
To seal up with ( sealing-)wax {By exten-
• ^ _
siou / To confiscate and keep under lock and key .
0 To glaze i gloss * mangle.
1 ) To treat. Ex aw pie : V >>•
2 ) To invite.
give a party or entertainment.
To abandon. To neglect.
<; ) To spur.
■& 3 ^
take a short cut i cut across > cut off
a corner i short-cut.
0^1 ( Add the iallowing E. E,'} :
To fish in troubled waters.
^M»r 1 ) Excuse me for interrupting you.
2} By the way. {Lit,) May there be sugar in your words.
They came to a rupture. ( Lit, ) Their
mutual relation broke up.
set two persons at variance 1
ntake mischief between them. Cf, the above.
To make it up » or judge i between two
[icrsons. Cf. the a bare two entries,
^ <r
nair> drive ( or hammer ) a nail. To tack.
See also
To nail ( up ) . To stud with nails. ( Figura¬
tively ) To ensure > make firm.
Midget \ dwarf. ( Lit, ) Small peg to
which a cock’s leg is tied.
— 67 .^ —
[IF/Z/j -0} To give liberty of action (to),
means “a square or open spacei a (battlc-)field or arena” }
{Colloquial] Clerk writing only what is dicta¬
ted to him ( /. e, simple or junior clerk )
2^ O O
To set , as a watch. To adjust or regulate. To focus.
2^^ O SOs
j (meeU) To probe. To catheterize.
2^ O 2^8
or Jj* ( meyl. ) To eat or drink i l;.kc.
( Polite substitute for or 1
■V^rr>i« I telt like it; it pleased me (to). I fancied i(,
Jt* I don’t feel like ( eating , etc. ) .
2^ 3^
Ji (Beloved) child. {Lit ) Fruit of the woinl.
[ also } .
2^ O 2^
\ U To despair > give up hope.
^ ^ To disappoint > make hopeless.
^ o ^
To be utterly ruined. {L/l,} To disappear. To be
annihilated or destroyed.
To ruin utteily. To annihilate or destroy,
2^ O 2^
To neglect one’s diet. To be incontinent.
^ O ^
jZmIuP^UjU To leave unfinished.
^ O ^
{Colloquial ) Hard to deal with. - yi* ^ hard nut
to crack j an awkward customer.
3 ^ < 3 - 3 ^
-676-
To be compelled or forced.
To set at nought} make light of i trifle with.
aS? <3- 3^
I Compound adjective ) Close-fisted. ( Lit. )
Having dry finger-nails.
To pick ( and steal ) i pilfer. { literally
means “ small nail ” } .
eU)^U To wink at i connive at. ( Lit. ) To take ( or
consider ) as unseen.
3^ * aCt
To inconvenience} disturb. To worry » put out.
{^Colloquial ) To play (some one ) false > play
(some one) a nasty trick. ( Lit. ) To refuse to go (after
one has agreed to go ) .
Tribute or credit. {Lit .) Praising some one’s thumb
( for its virtue) . Cf. the E. “ pat on one’s back ” .
3^ 3^:
P'** O'! aiis. To mince. To feign disdain. —
Don’t play hard to get. Don’t be coaxed. Don’t put
on airs. Also> don’t make a fuss.
To bear sonic one’s airs i also } ceax him.
( Sometimes } .
To make thin(ncr}. Jo soften } as one’s voice. —
See on page 9 4.
{Compound word - colloqu/ al ^ Hard to please >
fast id ions.
[With 3l) To arise or springjfiorr. To be prompted by.
To govern i also } be applicable to.
( Lit, ) To look at.
eSU The centre of the town, means “navel”) ,
-617-
Md U { Slang } Cunning ; shrewd. Also i naughty.
iJU {Slang) Penniless; poor! hungry.
OiJ'jVii To knockout. (Jiru is perhaps a humorous
corruption of the E. knock - out ” ) .
^ ^ Crooked Ly nature i£
never made straight hy education. See also undef etc
To have no alternative hut to. - 31
^ could not help remaining silent.
_ . <s ^
<0 ailej Ai^u Let it not remain unsaid that.
■& 2?
<JU To groan. To complain. To lament. (
To groan under.
To name or mention.
<»l> To name or call. ( Lit. ) To put a name (on) .
J)jt { Used as a noun ) Abusive language. Incoherent
Speech.
^ o ^
To play foul i be cowardly.
5C§ 2^
To be betrothed. To be nominated.
To betroth. To nominate.
sSt •» sSt
ol_a^>U'U Disagreeables. (Originally plural of
“ rough ; haish ” ] .
=& <3- O
To enrol or enlist. To register.
^90 )
'^■5/' '-M, Oli or ^li To cam one’s bread.
P ( Colloquial } I, hn„gs mill.
( , ) Bread comes out of it.
-678-
Note. cry is colloquial for O' iSj* “in it and
is colloquial for “ comes ” .
C Ofte>2 with } Xo give daily bread to ( /.
support or sustain ) .
( Colloquial ) Means of earning bread or ( illegal )
pro t it i what brings grist to the mill. (L>it, ) Place where
bread is stored. {^Vulgarly yj-so^ }
o lyli ( Add the fol lowing } ;
Also > he goes with the stream (or tide ) .
wiiprevent some one from earning his
bread. ( Lit. ) To change his bread to bricks.
^ ^ o^-’ To eat salt ( or break bread )
with a person. {Lit,) To eat bread and salt with him.
( With ) To attain or obtain.
O *
/ l^.-r To feel a person’s pulse. [In a figurative
sense also 0 ->JjT 1 u^’ )
0^ . It is ( the animal ) grazing on the
mountain that is uncooked. (Said in reply to one who at
table says that the meat is not properly cooked ) .
A I * * A I *
J? Jii Rough - hewn i uncultivated
unlicked.
1 ^'^)
Unhewn and unscratched.
Misshapen or rough-hewn (person).
<C> I To sum up. {Lit,) The result is that.
To produce a result i be efficacious.
* _
To conclude. To inter. (^//.)To get a (good) result.
^ j(i) To Scatter or strew. ( Figuratively ) To offer
or sacrifice.
Ct
( Col loquial ) To be miserable » cry and be
restless : said of a baby.
-679-
Note, j—» is an abstract moun from which
means “ unlucky » gloomy > or miserable ” .
I To have a finger in every pie,
A *
( . ) To serve as a pea for every pottage.
^JiJ^ To giggle. means “ like a pea ”7 and
O-^.***^ is to laugh ”} .
5^2 3Sg
[Colloquial j It is as sure as a gun i there is
not a shadow of doubt in it. { Ut. ) There is no (saying)
It didn’t hit the mark ” ( Doubtful ) .
O * 3^
jlf ( Colloquial } Imprudent or silly i also » tactless.
( Lit, ) Who doesn’t know( > or says ‘‘ I don’t know ” )
how to do the work.
Imprudence or silliness i also ? lack of tact
See the preceding entry,
•-WUJ [Colloquial ) Parvenu > sordid. (Lit ) He who
had not seen it» has now seen it. See pvb, based on this
on page 595,
t?. ^
jtJj j“^ To bet 7 lay a wager (or bet ) .
To vowi dedicate by a vow. To distribute charitably.
^ h. I . Though 1 vow
to give alms in order to redeem my life (lit. head ) > it
is myself and my son who will eat the alms in the end.
^ote , (J) <-!j is a colloquial form of mean¬
ing for ” . ( 2 ) Tiiere is a rime between “ rny
head ’ and “ my son ” . A similar rime in English
would be
I’ll make a vow for charity’s sake ■>
For that 1 know will save rny life.
I’ll eat J howe’er 5 the alms 1 vow 7
Shared with my son and iiiy wife.
-680-
C-/' \y^ith or ^y* To rate or tariff.
^ ^ ^ o^-^y tP)
3^8 2::^
To grow mild. To Ije pacified. ( L}^, ) 1 ) To te-
cone soft. 2) To be reduced to powder.
tame. To pacify. To mollify. (Li^.) To reduce
to powder \ pulverize. To soften.
To behave softlyj gently^ or leniently.
3^ <}■ SS*
** ^
He dances before the music starts. (Referring
to prejudgment or to an instance of one picking a quarrel
without a good motive } .
^Jim To draw near* approach. To con.e near(er) .
To bring near > cause to approach. To cut short.
To lie; h ave sexual intercourse. {W^ilh \ or h) .
3^ O O
To ar rive or lodge (in speaking of the
^*^0 ) ■ ( ) To descend with glory.
To come down ; descend. See dlso the above
entry, 2) r amitively^ To borrow on interest.
<J I ) As compared with. 2) Than. 3 ) With respect
to. 4) Relative to ; concerning. .S) To(ward) .
To attribute) impute) or ascribe .
{With j\) To copy; transcribe; make a copy of.
torture (some one ) by mutilating some part
of liis body.
LJ a*) Vl—>
3^ O
1'rom generation to generation.
or To sell on credit {or on tick) .
3^ O 3^
-6ttl -
To show. To indicate » point out . ( A//. ) To
give a sign.
To wear a decoration.
To mark (out) i mark off. To aim at. To sight ,
as a gun. To select. To designate.
To (take) aim.
or ICoiloqi/ial) To leak or ooze.
Note. w.li or is similar to the A. words
“ going out ” and “ publishing or spreading ” .
To subsidei settle i sink i cave in. (A//.; To sit.
Association. ( L.it ) Sitting and rising.
t?> Ct
IaJJ To grow (up) i th five.
To set before the eyes (/. observe).
<3 o <)s
To fall to the lot of ... -
^ Successes won by us
To apportion by Fate. - Grant,
Heaven save us from. . ,
( Ar/. ) ]Vlay it jjQj
To ripen or develop.
, 3 ^^ To deliver a spr-fi
it be far from us.
n
V'
To control {;i supervise {usually with y }
To s<.*c Or watch.
To be restored to oider.'To get into linei line up.
<aJ?J ^Uaj Compulsory military service. means “duty”).
f Of To look '•> cast a glance.
^ view of ; considering i due to > on account of . -
In view of the fact (hat > considering that ; since.
- 662 -
To express one’s opinion j make a comment,
j 0->3 on page y\2}.
ably upon ( usually in the past participle “ fa¬
voured or favourite”) .
jisj I h ave no private motive {or self-interest) in
this matter. ( means sight \ opinion i viewpoint »
intention i ( private ) motive i etc ” } .
To express one’s views or opinion i recommend i
make a comment.
30? o
(<)) To restore order ini put in order i give good
shupe to .
0- 3^
jrtlai" Similar to > parallel to> analogous to.
^^IwXi jrtlii It is unparalleled.
c>' or 0 *^ 2 **^ 1*0 clamour or i'0<ir.
3^ O O
la> [pftetJwHh To look at i see. To look favour-
j <> ,Jj»j To m isrepresent
[Lit,) To nail the shoe upside
facts (by deceitful means),
down to a horse’s foot .
God forbid.
ref uge in God .
Save US5 Good Lord, (^^f.) We seek
3C£ -0- O
I JUi, To SOW discord i make mischief.
Aai To Swell. To be flatulent.
3^ a
[}^ith 31) To hate or abhor.
^,^^6 jl> {naf as-) To get a fresh breath of air > lest i
refresh oneself. ( . ) To renew one’s breath.
To breathe,
^i^.;b p ^^-wd) He is blind to the diff icul -
ties (^^G) His breath comes out of (/. he speaks from)
a warm place.
-683-
He has resigned his
lireath. He has forgotten hicathing.
j^A) ^jmAi To pant or gasp for breath.
^ o
O^jl 2 ^' To ( derive a) benefit. To make a profit (in this
sense also ) ,
jaAiUj To do good. To be useful. <i} To benefit.
^*Xm {CoIloquial"^ To be wasted or spoiled. To die for
an unknown cause i die pitifully.
o i
{Colloquial'] To forebode an evil. To con¬
sider as a bad omen.
^^ote, xj "is originally the plural of ( fiU'S- )
“ self ) personi souP’j and means in plural “ pOpulation’\
However* it seems that popular etymology has connected
it with wT-'' ( fiafas ) ‘‘ breath ” .
banish, ) To expel from one’s city.
uU-f oUl ^A> ^^A» Two negatives make an affir¬
mative ( or positive ) .
^ o ^
lo snore. ( Z-//, ) To blow a (brass) trumpet.
1 ^) To burrow or mine — j' To undcir. ine.
^ o ^
t}^ ( Colloquial or hunr yjus } To fine i also >
to blackmail. ( l^it, ) To ^ ;;uterize by silver.
To mig and murmur.
^ O ^
{Colloquial ) To have a lucky hand or thiow.
(By extension) To have a lucky hit. (<j^ means ‘‘design i
picture i painting » impression i etc. ” } .
^ ’ j\ To knock on the head » bring to nought i
frustrate. ( L/f, ) To make (like) an impression on water.
“ 684 -
imprinted. To be formed or designed.
(See hi <r^)
To come a cropper, (^h,) To make a design
or impression on the ground.
To draw or paint.
4.15) To plan or design, (hit.) To d raw a map or plan,
\j ^iJi To play a part ( or role ) .
3^ O
To be decreased.
tX
^ <laAj To dot or point. To punctuate.
c
JjlS* 4i3Z) Reverse j antonym. {Lit.) Opposite ( point ) .
jta) AXaa) Point of view > viewpoint.
To alio w of being narrated or spoken about. Example,*
Ji j\ There is much to tell about this man.
To quote or cite. (Lit. ) To narrate some¬
thing said.
To remove 1 shift to a new place.
( Co loquial ) It doesn’t matter > don’t worry >
don’t care. Cf. J*'
SDS o 2^
j^-5i Life and soul of a party. ( Lit. )
plum (or dessert) served at a party.
^ O ^
^ To cavil. To make a nice distinction.
“ a point or subtlety ” ) .
The sugar -
l^cC nieans
6 ^Ci [Si Thick- set and clumsyi lumpish: said of a person.
Note. *j~s^ in grammar means indeterminate j as a
noun ) or indefinite j as an article.
O O ^
. . . a;C» [Used with the subjunctive mood 1) Perhaps.
Example ; -**C; Perhaps he is sick i I hope he
is not ill 2 ) Lest.
Note. ^ is the negat ve of -■:5' or -,hird ,,c..oi.
Singular of the verb OJjS” in the present subjunctive mo d,
meaning “ (that) he may nut do ” , or “May it not be”.
To abstain i go Kick i fail. To dishonour , as a
bill. - o:.> J>£; ji Xo go back on one’s word .
C< o
JU J ( Slafig } Nagging and complaining {or groaning) .
Note, cii jg perhaps another form of q, v, in
o^-> , and Jl^ is a contraction of ‘groaning’.
O *
To fix the eyes on something. {Lit.) To
sew one’s look to something.
<ii Jbe algi T. Look at mummy’s hand,
and imitate her coquettish gestures. ( Said to, or of girls
who imitate their mothers’ actions}
Os^Tol© or ale Look here; I say. Be careful.
To be anxious or concerned; have anxiety.
*5 J To show i exhibit ; represent. To give a si ow
or representation. To show off.
crir^ To infiltrate ( lit. give back) moisture.
To be close - fisted Cf. o^l-> u". |»^
T, To dry one’s felt coat in the sun (/. e,
to be allowed a chance to look after one’s own interests).
Notc\ is a kind of felt jacket worn by shepherds.
Cj4)J To number. is from the Fr. fn/mero'}
0 ^ To mark or grade ; award marks for ( or to)
To mark or grade. {Lit.) To put a number (on)
O iJ- <>
f C(jJ l fj/I tJ i y'J 1 1 tJ_ 1 t
-686 -
also ) one who has inelegant habits. ( hit, ) Salt'cellar.
O <1- ^
jmJ' To moisten » make damp. ( Sla>/g } To reserve i
prepare beforehand. [Usually in the past participle . Ex¬
ample : He has reserved one } .
To be damaged by moisture- To get rusty.
^ O ^
Bound by ties of hospitality. ( Of iginally ) Caught
by 5 or beholden to ) the salt served by another.
0 T. You have spilled the salt. [Said to a child
who has fallen down in order thjit he may turn his atten¬
tion from the incident and stop crying } .
Drizzl ing rain.
^ O ^
( Colloquial } = Damp.
[Slang'] Spoiled ■) as a child. Selfish, Silly. Who
ingratiates himself in an unwelcome or insipid manner.
I disdain. ['-^^' nreans “shamei disgracei discredit”).
p"Dear muiMiiy i dear mamma. [As one Word']
Grandmother.
<13 To pretend to be weak and defenceless.
[hit.) lo start Saying) Mummy > 1 am a stranger ( h
I a m fori orn or defenceless ) ” .
To mimic some one.
Note. A variant form of this idiom
Cl. j o// p^g^ 467,
o ^
w«d U ,w.>^ h. E. (1) Turn and turn about i
turn about is fair play. ( 2 ) First come j first served.
~ 6 8 7
( . ) If things are ( to l>e ) done in turn , it is ( no)
our turn. a.
0- O ^
.^3^ Darling i dear child i acushJa .
( ) Light of the eye.
J3> My child or darling. ( By extension ) Darling ;
also , favourite. ( Lit, ) Light of ( my) eye.
^ cS^ Drink-hail! Drink good health ! Cheero! {Keply
to one who says> “To your health’’ or “Good health!
Note, J-y. is ^ wholesome drink or a treacles so
the phrase oV amounts to saying, “ May it he whole¬
some or good for your health ( lit, life ) ”
To tat or drink heartily. ( Ironical ly ) 'fo
receive or suffer (something deserved). Example:
He had a good beating, which he deserved
To snub some one i give him a rebuff.
( Lit, ) To cut off some one’s beak ,
Note, A variant form of this idiom gives
“ to clip with scissors ” for o-^
( ^^-X) 4i To prevent or dissuade one from
doing something. (Lit.) To say, “ No ” , when some one
intends to do b thing.
Note, There is a superstitious belief that when a
person utters the word “No” when another is about to
do something , the latter should abstain from doing it
for fear of meeting with failure.
^oUU<i aiU;« .jU-T <> F. T. The
Government’s taxes are sure to he collected, just as winter
IS sure to come. (Note the contrast between oL-T “heavens”
and Oy>j “earth ” }
Note,
abeyance ”
u jp 31^
or: in this case,
idiom meaning “to be
“ fall into a I rears ’ ’ .
left in
P- i> p
- 688 -
jL.J To supplicate or pray. ( Lii. ) To bring ( e.
present or enumerate ) one’s needs.
OJ / jU To give or offer.
<; ) To need.
^
wJ To intend or design. To decide To concentrate
on one’s thoughts and wishes before consulting a book*
or before praying j fasting » etc.
0.5-^ Of To play a trick i use trickery.
^
t* * fT» t
^uXaai C—•*> To be annihilated. To disappear.
To annihilate. To squander.
2^8 < 3 -
More kicks tlmn halfpence, ( I^it. ) More
stings than honey.
( Colloquial } To grin. (Also derogatory for
({ jQ laugh ” ) .
To grin. Cf, \j
pinch.
Thin as a lath \ lean as a rake »
lube of a hookah i hookah - snake.
Baby. ( ChiuHsh word }
Cry-baby. ( lit, ) Little baby.
tl O 0^
bare - bone.
*
{ Colloquial for jjUwI J Xo stand.
O"^ To give back i return.
To be taken aback* be surprised.
( L,tt. ) To be interrupted in one’s nap or slumbers. Cf .
^ * i|^ ^
Ij C Colloquial ) To be refused. To be shocked
with wonder or disappointment. To be disillusioned.
To persuade or oblige ( a person ) to do
something.
^ J {^Colloquial ) Repudiation of one’s word.
1^8 O 3^
To be justified or justifiable i be correct. To be
acquainted or in touch.
To arrive. To be imported. {With ->*> } To arrive
at. To enter j come in. To join .
^ To import. To enter or register. (Figuratively)
To. initiate.
^ -a- 8^
To search or investigate. To verify or audit.
} To be relaxed. To become loose.
Note. The past participle j means remiss or relaxed.
To distort. To misrepresent. ( Lit. ) To
show upside down or inside out.
To turn upside down or inside out. To invert.
1.5 To reject or refuse.
To overturn or upset .
44
-690
( Colloquial for For = .
or To reach* be received. {With ^ }
To join. — I am in receipt of your letter*
receipt is acknowledged of your letter .
^ ^
laUc jnC lactj Preacher not practising what he preaches.
^
To take place i happen * occur * come to pass.
^8 -0 ^8
With ^ } To be aware of.
( Slang } To go back on one’s word .
0^ To catch * be infected by. To copy.
^
Id I OfcAltj The missus (or missis). (Lit.) Mostafa^S
mother ( i. c. my wife ) . (Sometimes ^ ^ ‘the
children’s mother’) .
i^ote. ( Mostafa ) is the name of a man* and
stands here for a typical name* like Tom* Dick* and Harry.
^ o ^
^VLaJI J And there is an end of it * that is all » there is no¬
thing else to say. (Lit.) And peace ( be upon you ) .
i\ote. fX-ljj ^ vassalaUi) is an obsolete formula
of concluding a letter > and is often expanded to read
fU ov. ((-^LJij i e. That is all * and the letter is finished.
^ o ^
U"! J ( But ) a? to ( Lit. ) And but.
ewXjl»x) ( Colloqui a I or slang ) Damned * cursed i con¬
founded. ( Lit, ) Tired out. Lagging. Disabled.
^ J? To make believe > feign* pretend.
C'J^- Woe is me ! Woe betide me ! Alas for me !
^ -a-
Woe betide. Woe is. Heaven save us from.
* • * Woe betide any one who ever . . .
- 691 -
Alas for me ! Woe is me !
... ^ ^
.JUbf
^ J Notables J influential men. is the plural
^‘‘faces or phases .
<». j The reason why a thing is (so-) called.
^gU Popularity. [V!-.} means “ manner i mode S also ,
side ) .
2^8 -fr O
J To fear i be alarmed or frightened ( usually
by loneliness ) .
c-cU- J Serious state of affairs.
OSaP or To bid farewell.
■& 5^8
To deposit.
{Colloquial) To talk too much i gabble.
2^8 * SC2
To come offi come loose; scale off ; flake off .
To peel off. To be leavened.
{Colloquial) To go out of fashion. To be abolished.
To dredge or sift.
{Colloquial) To drop off; drop away; go out like
the snuff of a candle; hop the twig; come to an untimely
end. {Lit,) To fly away ( or off ) .
J {Colloquially o:>/j j j) To gambol
Or frolic. ( Lit. ) To jump up and down.
U ' 2^2 2^8
vj 3 J ^ {Slaug Tot J Who steals and runs
away; light-fingered. - {As a noun) Snatcher; pilfeier.
J S {Colloquial) To dally ; play ; fool (with a thing).
SC8 o O
J S ( Colloqui al ) To cry or shout : said of a baby.
{Colloquial) To chatter or gabble.
2^2 * Jfi?
- 692 -
J The tide has turned. (Lit.) The leaf (of play¬
ing-card ) has been turned upside down. Ci. the E, To
turn the tables on some one » which i in the cifcutn -
stancei , would be tendered
turn over (a leaf) .
Jj cr jJ ( Slang ) To swell i heave (also
) . { Perhaps from Of “protuberant** }.
To run over the leaves of (a book) . To cut
into layers or sheets.
To laminate. To come off in layers.
jti aIjJ To laminate. To cut into layers.
[Col loqu ial'] To slip off ( or away ) .
^jyj * No entrance * or * No admittance ’ .
{ Lit. ) Entrance is forbidden.
O *
Formula of incantation. (By extension) Witch.
JC [Colloquial ’) To jabber i mutter ( the for¬
mula of incantation ) .
jj [Colloquial } To frizzle up. To buzz or hum
[usually .
[Colloquial'] l)To buzz or hum. 2) To drone.
3) To ferment (intransitive). 4) To frizzle up.
j ( Colloquial } Frizz(l)y i fuzzy.
8^ -CJ- $
0*5 y <U 3 *- J To inspire evil suggestions.
<J^ ■0“ o
To become available by a Specified time (usu¬
ally with a negative context} . Example :
A lA ji
JT [With if } To marry with.
^ Relative i kinsman or kinswoman. ( Lit . ) A patch
on one’s body.
- 693 -
^1 ;,^^ To patch ( up ) .
Of <1*^^ Uncongenial friend. Ill-matched
8pou6e. (Lit. ) Ill -ported or different patch.
Note, jyt-^ LL^j ip ajgQ used in such phrases as
c—1 * 1 ^' t* j can’t see him having done that >
/. the accusation is not likely ” .
^ o ^
^ To make one’s will. To command
* s;?
To he delivered of a child.
C—oT cJ£’J It is not yet due. means “due date ;
time when a hill falls due or comes to maturity ” ) .
oMj ( Colloquial J To break one’s promise
( or word ) . ( Better say }
oOCj False promise. (Lit.) The promise of Ofghuob:
an Arab who was notorious for breach of promise.
or ^J£>S To promise. Also ? to make an
appointment.
^J£'J To invite.
To be (or remain) constant or faithfuls hold
out to the last.
To be faithful or constant. — To
keep one’s promise. - Lij Hjs failed him i
he did not live long enough.
* 258
To adapt or reconcile.
Sk o 258
^ To be abundant,
258 O 85k
^ It is time to.
jm Breathing - gap. ( Lil. ) Time to scratch
one’s head.
Colloqui a I ) To find a leisure i afford time.
^ -wr When two Sundays meet \ to - morrow come
never. (Lit,) At the time when (he reed puts forth flowers.
- 694 -
From time to time. In season and out of seadoti.
[With the stress on the iir^t syllable) Once i at
one time. [ Por } When.
[With To take heed of i give heed to 1 pay
attention to. To have regard for.
o
jJT To endow ( for pious purposes ) . To dedicate.
To entail.
To take pi ace ) happen \ come to pass.
( Also ) •
i3L
i [With ^ ) To come to know i understand »
learn * obttin information about.
Kt
( To give powers { to ) > appoint as one’s at¬
torney ( or proxy ) .
/ c^Jir j To be a lawyer \ go to the bar i act as counsel.
To act in another’s right i be his agent. To be a deputy
( of the Parliament ) .
jf [Colloquial) To throb.
3^ •& O
appoint as one’s counsel) brief. To empower)
delegate. To elect (for the Parliament.). Cf. O'*!.? J
^J [Short 1 or ^'‘J'\j) Otherwise, For indeed.
[Colloquia]) Profligate) extravagant) prodigal) lavish
of one’s money. (Jj means “ ( hanging ) loose i freely”)
and means “ expense ” } .
jiSs To be profligate or prodigal i be lavish of
one’s money.
2^ -a-
J, [Colloquial) Tepid. [Usually ^J'^)
^ O'
- 695 -
J,J To hang loose. To be detached. To drop.
lively ) To become dissolute > go astray.
To let go > set free. To drop i let fall. To allow
or let. To abandon \ give up.
^ o ^
4i«lao He is by no means willing to leave the
matter » he is (too) persistent on that matter .
Noles. ( 1 ) is the agent for the verb Jj
q. V. above. ( 2 ) means ^transaction’’ , and in this
case » “ matter ” .
sS *
To rove. To go about unemployed.
Even though ? even if.
j ( Colloquial ) Gossipy i slanderous ; also > given
to babbling .
Mole. Some people-especially the Iranian Jews-use
this word in the sensj of careless or easy-going. , ji; j tijCJ j
Sfii J J {^Siafig) (Left) wide open. Carelessi easy-going.
( Colloquial ) To spread or stretch out. To scat¬
ter about. To unroll or unfold.
A ( vangovooug. ) {Colloquial ) To cry or
shout » as a baby, ( Sometimes j
O ^ Jj J ( vool^ ) ( Colloqui al ) To tossj as in bed ( a' so
0*33 jyj . To wriggle. To show signs of uneasiness.
To have a de praved appetite \ have the longing
of pregnant women,
C ^l^^^g } Vagrant > at a loose end. {Emphatic
for O^iJ ) .
&
J Of Stupefied or amazed.
s^ -0- ^s
^ i O Hadi} why did
you call me by your own name ? { Said to j or of ? one
who turns over a calumny to which he has been exposed
to another person } .
Note, jg g man’s typical name » and has been
chosen to rime with .An E. parallel would be O Mr.
Shame » why do you give me your own bad name ? ”
t Colloquial } Nincompoop > dupe. (Used mostly in
I j<r To try to d upe some one (by taking
advantage of his simplicity ) } .
^ O ^
^S^fwOI olj ( h ) J To start a big row i make
an uproar > raise hell. {Construed also with )
Cry of weeping, {Used also adverbially^ as in']
wept bitterly or with a loud cry.
C 5i£2«^ ) Unprincipled i lawless > irregular or
disorderly .
{Col loquial) Good - for - nothing. See the next entry.
To lampoon » libel i satire.
O'^J^ lo rush. To crowtl or swarm.
{f'or } To come to nothing. ( Of blood )
To be shed with impunity. {Also o-^-^ .
To offer j make a present of. To dedicate.
O <5* 2S8
- 697 -
To ravei be delirious, means “delirium”)
If indeed; if peradventure. u^ed alone is
bookish? and means “verily ; indeed i certainly ” } .
JA ^£J^J j-a> E. E. He is at the end of
his tether.
7". He has no arrow left in his quiver, means
“ to shoot an arrow ” ) .
w-i p ^ c—I E. E. There is no smoke without fire.
T. Wherever there is smoke » there is breath (/. e. traces
of life ) .
{^Add the followhig E, E.)
Flies go to lean horses.
2^ -O’ O
{Used adjectivally) Chaotic i disorderly i anar¬
chical. is originally a noun> and means “anarchy,
chaos » disorder ” } .
C.M Every now and then. ( Lit. ) Once every
•o often .
* t-vUi** j! {Add the
following E. E. , which is derived from the Bible^ :
That which the palmer - worm hath left hath the locust
eaten.
. tjb Come what may.
<Aj-b C^ji ^ live as long as
the ashes of the deceased. { Said to one who »s bereaved
of a relative } .
j^, <^jib The sooner the better.
^ote. The model of the above sentence can be used
for any other pair of adjectives.
^ ft is always the
lame man’s foot which happens to wear the tight shoe.
L. Flies go to lean horses.
Note. This is a variant form of the pvb.
etc. V.
- 698 -
^J*" **1^-** j*^ ^
T. The more the snake hates the penny - royal » the
oftener the herb grows by its hole . { Originally same as
ji ->L» etc. q. ) .
Harum - scarum or easy - going ( person ) i
also } unprincipled ( person ) .
[Colloquial^ Capricious » fickle > also? whimsical.
( L.lt , ) Who changes each moment his thoughts.
^
To go (or run ) to waste.
^«Xii To get loose > work loose > as machine parts.
i Slang] The genital organ. ( Lit, ) Debauchery or
profligacy » also? abusive language.
j-^ To give up oneself to debauchery. To use
bad language.
To prune.
Ck ^3- O
( the following E. E, ) ;
Where men are all used well » they’ll frequent there.
Cf, et c .
^ C Colloquial } Disorderly! anarchical. Cf,
J II ( Lit. ) Whoever or any one { repeated ) .
j) P. T. Whichever fl ower you
use for sticking in your hair j it is your own hair { lit.
head) which will be honoured by it. (Said to one who is
going to make a present of somethingi or give a bonus* in
order to encourage him to be more generous in doing it) .
2^ O-
[Colloquial or slang] To giggle.'
Note, ^ J is an expanded form of
- 699 -
implying a greater-degree of rudenesa.
^ Coi/o^«/a7 ) Irreligious or atheistic ( person )
(Person) without a firm belief, Cf.
8^-^ ' t } Go away i move on. ( Derogatory )
_ . $ -O' $
<—C-A All one has; one’s all. ( Lit. ) What is and
what is not.
^8 * O
{Slang} Nonsensical; meaningless; incoherent ; silly,
t^ttftssed ; chaotic ; irregular.
. r- ' . ' ^ ^
To assimilate or digest {figurative sefise) ,
*3 U oL^lj cito He has already dreamed of
even mgs ( /. e. It is a long time since he has slept >
he is fast asleep ) . . *
seven winding-
® Jong tinie since he is dead).
several meanings. ( ^it. ) Septilateral.
7t^\ o ) Exlrenrely sly or leery.
\ ) Seven - striped.
To dress up to the nines. ( Lit, ) To
ress Up ( or attire oneself ) in seven different ways.
Formerly fhrre used to be 7 articles of adorn-
ent rouge > ceruse » woad j collyrium or antimony ,
nhp^ * 4 " henna., gold-leaf, and civet, or
teinatively , beauty - spot.
[Slang) Wrinkled with age ; decrepit.
r « ^ O
l| jt
" cannot make both ends meet i he is
put to his last shifts. ( Lit. ) He has to put “ eight ” in
pledge for “ nine ” . i e
or ^Kja*' (See unfe ^)
J*' { See under o-rU Jy* ) ^
- 700 -
Of Black hole. { ^erhapfl coriu{>-
tion of ■
* a5»
omS c->> ( Marriageable or any ) girl with ruddy
cheeks. ( Lit.) Peeled peach. Cf, the E, Peach (which
means “ attractive girl ” ) .
^X^jb To cry for joy. To applaud.
Ai^Jt Aito or 4Xlb {^Slang'] Bits and pieces ( of food ) .
(For (•ti) To be closed or stopped* as a hole.
w.*-i ^ change what I have said. There
is no more to it.
To coordinate. (Lit,) To harmonise.
To accompany * or go along with* some one.
(Lit.) To go with the same foot > i, c. at the same pace «
as another.
8 ^ 85
or JT c«ci^ To take efforts. To show one’s
lofty purpose ( or ambition ) .
25 * 25
To vie or compete with one another .
( Lit ,) To look at one another with the same eye .
To agree with each other . To conspire .
{Lit.) To have the same story or fable .
To sympathize. To condole.
To join hands* collaborate, ^ce also
{^ith ) To assist or relieve. To favour.
(Lit.) To accompany* go along with * escort. — Jl
See him to the door.
To go with the stream ( or tide ) .
(Lit.) To assume the same colour as the crowd » become
similar to them. See the pvb. etc.
Unanimous. (Lit.) Speaking the same language.
- 701 -
Of the same opinion i unanimous. (Lit, ) Of U.e
fame voice.
1) To cooperate. 2) To compete.
Even > level i smooth. ( figuratively ) Gentle -
To tolerate.
« O
{Colloquial compound word) All-round (per¬
son) ; also . Jack of all trades . (Lit.) (One) who
can deal with all arte.
F. r. We are all travelling in the fame
caravan ; eome arrive at the destination sooner and some
arrive later (/. e. Sooner or later we will all die) .
• • Both. . . and, . . Example : jI-u Both
a pen and a pencil.
{Colloquial '] 1) Gratuitously i ex gratia. 2) At
random ; at a venture. 3) Lit. (Just) like that.
. sS * 35?
To perform a piece of art. (Lit.) To show skill.
Odds and ends; stray articles. (Perhaps
vulgar corruption of ^ and ^ “the little finger and
the ring finger ” j with reference to the small size of
such articles ) .
35? « stS?
Cam\ {Colloquial ) He is wonderful or marvellous;
he does such and such a thing wonderfully well ; he is a
prodigy of..» See below.
To raise an uproar i kick up a row.
To take the side of some one i side
with him ; support him. { (also ) means
partisanship or support ’*)•
To Breathe ( pure ) air ; take the air ; take a
Breath of fresh air.
aerate. To expose to air.
702 -
^ [CoIIoqui aiy Things don’t look well) circum¬
stances are not favourable, The atmosphere is low,
t
[ColloquiaTy To arrive unexpectedly or
unwelcomely. may be connected with which means
* a , '
“ load ^ weight i pressure ” i in which case the idiom
would means literally ‘Ho fall on some One as a load’'} .
^jU^r [Colloquial) To cry (for help ) j shout.
JC To fly ) as a kite.
( how- ) ( Slang ) = \ y>-
ij** J J Carnal desire(s).
To keep the equilibrium of something i
see that it doesn’t fall. To watch or observe something.
To have the intention of doing something.
[Colloquial) 1) Casual(ly)i unexpected(ly). Example:
•^1 k }-He got a windfall of an enormous
sum. 2 ) Desirous of changing one’s environment i also »
homesick .
3^ -C3- ajg
*0 ( hovah - be - hovah ) Word for word > verbatim,
in Arabic means “ he ” } .
C CoIIoquial } Hooligan. Hooter. Gossip. [ From this
word comes “ hooliganism ” ) . .
To cheer > shout hurrah. ( is from the
French “ hourra ” } .
lo indulge in one’s desires or passions.
To f ancy > take a fancy to. To aspire (at or after).
He was unable to believe his senses i *he
was struck dumb j he was dumbfounded . ( Lit, ) His
consciousness went out of his .head. ; ■
703 -
To (become) sober. To come to one’s senses.
-o
I Colloquial ) To hiss or hoot. To spread a false
rumour . To boo ( h ) i cry clown » give a bird to , { ^*
( how ) is used as a synonym of to mean “ a false
rumour ” See \
^ ( hoo- ) To utter the exclamation as a curse
Or a good wish. Practised by dervishes }
{Colloquial) To have a shock ; be frightened.
{Cften with <;) To give a sudden fear toi shocki
terrify. To push > jostle against (usually J'*} .
sSs « 8^!
Of {Vulgarly ^;l-u or Js-^) Dungeon,
black hole. ( /-//. ) Place of horror. C/.
( Same as O'^ c—j)
O®' Shock i sudden fear, means “ shaking ” } .
^ o ^
{^Slang—also ^ Hurry - scurry j helter-
skelter. (Connected originally with J>* “shock or fear”) .
iColloquial ) To start a big row.
To clamour * outcry. Cf. a\j jm> j (_ 51 a
al'\ On and on j consistently. —
He kept on talking.
etc. = j or ^^Ktty etc,
^S'^iioqui al'^ Good-for-nothing, AlsO) idle or jobless.
<0 Every man is for ( or looks after )
himself. ( J~it, ) Nobody cares about another. ct ^
w-1 jfX etc.
8^ o 8^
Hey ! Alas ! Oh !
8^8 »
<OJI U ( ;ya - allah- ) Th is word> which originally means “O
God ” j is used ( 1 ) in invocations and prayeisi ( 2 ) on
meeting a person after his journey or long absence i in
which case it means ‘ hallo(a) ’ j ( 3 ) in various senses
such as ‘Up with you! Go on! Hurry upj etc.’ »in which
cases it is vulgarly pronounced yal^a ( with the stress on
the first syllable ) i (4) in token of respect while rising
before a newly-arrived guest* (S) upon entering a house
as an announcement to the women inside that a man has
come : an obsolescent custom.
[For To come to mind j be remembered.
J f ijb ( For I } To remember* call to mind. —
• • ■d" fJjjT ji .>1^ j reminded him that (also
0*5'I'® remind. Also? to remember or commemorate.
,^4 To instruct * teach * show how to do.
j> To take notes.
To note ( down ) .
To remember or recollect.
May he be ever remembered !
May he be always remembered or highly spoken
of ! (Used in speaking of * or quoting from * an absent
friend } . (Lit. ) May his memory be good.
( Colloquial for .>1^1 fjU ^ j remembered * it oc¬
curred to me ( also I ) .
{Colloquial ior cij fjl. j\) i forgot it.
JkiW ^.^b {Colloquial for -*;U: It escaped my memory.
C—.ji I do not remember * I cannot thir;}c of it.
35« « O
- 705 -
0 • , . He is not able to . . .
* which means ** ability > powers coorage**^
. iCpmeSifrQm the verb “to have the power or courage’*.
Jjb {Contemptuous substitute for j\) That fellow. {As
, nominative independent } Sirrah !
Bosom friend. ( Lit. ) Friend in the cave { epithet
of Aboobakfy who accompanied Mohammed in his flight
and on one occasion went with him into a cave )
S yU jLj. What is wrong with it ? ( Lit. ) Does it
not sing I “ O. Sweetheart ” ?
Note, jh nieans “ friend or sweetheart ”, and when
repea^d » is used in songs as a refrain.
{Often uith i; ) To assist or help. To show
friendship ( to ) .
*5 * ,
t ^ith J To rebel against.
85 *
C3b To be.found or obtained \ be available or obtainable.
85 * 85
C***f { Colloquial J He trails a light harrow » his hat
covers his family . ( Lit, ) He is alone ( /. e. single or
unmarried ) . {3>»lh in Turkish means “ alone ” ) .
85 25
^ ^ ^^ H you cannot be a
true man or a half-mani declare yourself a sheer t unprim
cipled man. Cf. <iCj Jtii I etc. and see
85 o- 25
^ ^ Give me either good appetite or death.
{ Said by one who cannot eat at a rich table for lack of
appetite ) .
85 * 85
ts. To freeze. means “ ice ” ) .
freeze. To be freezing.
i* *
■> His joke fell flat. H is plans failed {or came to
nothing ) f the glue did not hold. ( Lit. ) He could not
make his ice i his water was not frozen.
45
- 706 -
^ To freeze i feel very cold. To get cold.
yW ( yade - tool a ) Profound knowledge i great skill >
being very good (at a specified thing) . Long hand.
3hl To h arness. To trim with galloons (also 0^^
jl' or To trot.
sS? o 8^
^ jC or To amble.
? What does .... mean ? It is surprising. There is
no sense in it. The idea I
tyL
''*‘*1 To plunder ( also 0^.^; ,
Stout or sturdy.
JU) (Any) Tom i Dick ? or Harry. Also •> a person of
low } social rank .
^ote. ^1*^ {Ycighfie ~ Ali') is perhaps a contraction
of ^ - typical masculine name » and is a grocer
selling cereals. Cf, the Fr. epicier.
, 4«5) To seize .... by the collar. ( Slang )
To attempt to violate ( a woman ) ,
Mote, is vulgarly spelled
8^ O 8^
To be sure or certain. (L;7.) To have for certain.
^^5) To make sure » beconie sure ) convince oneself.
I became sure » I was convinced.
:<>: -a-
^jt‘ ^ will serve
him out well ( or settle his hash completely) . I will
make him dance without a pipe, ( Lit, ) I will cook for
him a pottage over which the oil stands nine inches high.
See ^ . the E. To cook some one’s goose.
( ^olIoqN}at } All at once. At a single instance.
At the Same time.
- 707 -
'^'*J** ® ) ’ tip » heel- ( -^- literally means
“ ( to ) one side ’*} .
{Colloquial'y Incessantly,
tiiA) ( Colloquial ) Sheer? blithering. Example :
Of *-—'1 He is a blithering ass.
Note, literally means “ consisting of one
piece » concrete i solid ’’ .
v53*** 4 ^ tSJt? c5J—I ani telling you
something i you ought to see it for yourself i seeing is
believing 1 you won’t believe it until you see it .
( Lit. ) I Pay something and you ( only ) hear something.
To tell a lie to find the truth i sound a person
( by means of a falfe statement intented to dis close the
facts ) . cf. the E. Xo fish for information.
vib Persistent » adamant J inflexible i holding to one’s
opinion. ( Lit. ) Having one rib.
sib [Colloquial } She is a button short.
Note. •‘*o means “ rib ”> and it is strange to apply
the phrase to a woman > for it is the man (out of whose
rib the woman was made) who ought to be wanting a rib.
»ib Direct(ly) .
Sincere j guileless j frank. ( lit. ) Of
one colour or face.
Every other day. (Lit .) One day in between.
hib =
To unify. See ^
((^) >> vib (See under y- ) .
Raw head and bloody bones. (Lit.) He who
has one head and two ears.
Head and shoulder ( used adverb ially ) .
( Lit. ) Head and neck.
S Cb [Add and adapt the following E. E.) :
Too hasty burnt his lips.
- 708 -
{ Colloquial Tone ( of ) , ( Lit, ) A world ( of ) .
( Often vulgarly .
C Colloqutal } A good deal ( of ) : used especially'
in the phrase cihr >U Such a one was given a
dressing down. ( Lit . ) One chapter,
ejlf [Colloqutal'] What a silly idea (to do such'a thing
particularly ) ! How silly of you !
Note, means “ particularly ( but not for any
good reason ) ” .
jf To consolidate. {Lit.) To put into the same bowl.
A handful (of) . A number (of) .
4 ^*?* ^ Tiny i very young. [Used as a noun] Naughty
* m
child » also > imp : mischievous child. {Lit ,) Nine inches
tall. { J means “ a span ) .
To dispute or altercate > polemize
(also ^/k] .
Mp
<iiib At one time. Once upon a time.
O ^
To be shocked. Also » to be taken aback.
<C) {Specific senses) (1) Child who feels strange in
the arms or presence of any one other than its mother,
( 2 ) Horse that gives ride to nobody except its owner.
( 3 ) Lover devoted and faithful to a single mistress.
( (General seme ) Person who consistently relies on > and
refers to y the same person in everything'^he does. ( Lit,)
( One ) who knows a single person .
wb {Colloquial*^ All at once. Abruptly. Suddenly,
sib Of {or at ) the same level. {Lit.) Of the same at¬
mosphere. [With the stress on the first syllable]
A thought i somewhat i slightly.
aSs o $
^ 4^1 ^ ) To give* one
knock on the iron and two on the' anvil. ‘
- 709 -
Once upon a time. (LU.) There waff one 7
and there wae none (or One existed and one did not) .
Note. Sometimes the phrase is extended to read
‘ ^ 5 ^ - the last part meaning
There was no one hut God ” .
) The first time doesn’t count.
( ut.) It is the cow’s eye that is one. (The true signifi¬
cance of this phrase showing its connection is obscure } .
To he united » unite. ( Lit, ) To become one.
Jo To unite or unify . To consolidate. { Lit. ) Jo
make one.
One by one, One at a time.
^(6 0^^ C Bookish } One by one.
<8 *
^b To reel : walk unsteadily .
<b To be bent or tilted. • To lean.
^ To bend or stoop. To tilt.
{.Colloquial ) Slowly j gently. Gradually.
{Vulgarly } .
O *
Addenda
to Idioms and Collocations*
( :ij cA^Sy^ 1 4., *J^ Ay/k )
!
0.51.5 To leak, (l^'tt .) To give back water.
^ ^ To rinse ? swill out.
^*ob t { Colloquial } To soften by squeezing » as a
pomegranate ( also 1 .
I To set fire to j set on fire. To light i aS a
cigarette . ( Figuratively ) ( 1 ) To inflame or enrage.
(2) To squander^ make ducks and drakes of.
To catch fire. To explode. ( Figuratively ) To
be inflamed or enraged.
To fire up ? be inflamed or enraged. ( Lit, ) To
become fiery.
Colloquial 'y & I In the end.
moan with pain, (c * & C'-^ exclamations}.
quiet down. To find comfort.
^. 51.5 (jiiOT To dress up {transitive ) . To adorn.
To dress up { intransitive') .
O^y. ^ To aspire ( for ) .
To nourish {lit. cook ) a hope.
0^“* * take easy. To be lenient.
^ Something particularly good or pleasant) bed
of roses. ( Lit. ) Pottage burning the mouth. {Usually in
the phrase c—} iSj.y- J^7 } .
^ choose one’s nest in. To build {lit. adopt)
a nest.
Weltering in one’s blood.
To appear on the surface ^ as a subterraneart
canal. { FigUfa^ i VBly ) To be published or noised abroad.
{hit,) To be exposed to the sun.
^irT To be informed j come to knoiv > understand.
.{Lit. ) To find ( /. obt ain ) information.
^ To make a tool of.
^ «Xo1 [^Colloquial ) To bring good luck. [**-•1 is from
0 **^ I tt (^0 coming ( of good luck ) ” } ,
or (Aa I Traffic. Frequenlation. —
To ply to and fro > traffic. (Lit.) To come and go.
I To be accustomed or used. To be addicted.
* means “ taught or learned ” } .
(Bookish) It is related i the story goesj it is said.
( Lit. ) They h ave brought ( i. €. related ) .
,oT Bitter {or discouraged ) sigh . ( Lit. ) Cold sigh.
oT To sigh. {Fit,) To draw » i, heave » a sigh.
0 ^/".... To intend {of be about) to... Example :
0^^ He intended to go. {I originally means
tune ” > and figuratively “ intention or attempt ” } ,
3 JuT = 3 JuT
4_> I To make disappointing remarks i also » to
be a wet blanket. { V I is a verse of the Koran ) .
To refuse.
To knit the brow. {j^. 1 means “eyebrow”).
Jl—<iA>l To connect or join. To put through ( i^^ the
telephone ) .
Unan iinity of votes? unanimous vote. — 0 ^* 1 ^
Unanimously,
To happen.
'Self - reliance.
Fingerprint.
jii Xo be efficacious. {^1
^ Footprint.
Scar » cicatrice.
means “ effect ” ) .
-7i2-
oib-l To ask permission.
* He is issueless. (I'it,) His fiteplace is blind
(Ke. his fire is extinguished).
^ avoid or shun.
Fate overtook him » his hour was come.
{ Jr> means “ end or death ” , and originally “a fixed
term or period ” ) .
^ To be conversant with i know perfectly.
( Lit, ) To surround { <tL-) J
4)1^1 Reduction to absurdity.
To avoid or shun. To abstain from.
C often with *■. ) To respect or honour ; pay
{ Of show) deference to.
To consider probable.
Of It is probable.
To need i be in need of.
There is no need for. . . .
No one said anything.
(A.) “ Well done! {Lit.) Thou hast done well.
To administer justice.
? cU-f Usi How are you ? is the plural- of
JU tt condition (of health ) ? circumstance ” )
To ask after a person i inauire* after
his health. ( Jt>^) above ) .
To come to an end.
To allocate » earmark.
To be allocated.
b To differ from. To disagree with.
To empower or authorize.
. .. ^ you wish. {Lit,) You have the authority;
LdT (Expression with various meanings such as
“You have the authority”, Sir (= w-l l^L Not at
all. On the contrary. The idea (of it ) !
Frowning.
,S {Colloij^uiu To hawk and spit.
“tl3-
OjU <clAf & A«l^l To continue.
To observe the rules of etiquette. To be polite.
(Of/ e/i wi } To hurt or damage.
Ui ,JUJdO> YouFi devoted friend i your? sincerely.
To produce or show.
guide » show the way { to ) .
,wLj.g;t Those endowed with or possessed of. — ■‘*1.^
Journalists) pressmen. — Learned people. —
Clients. Customers. Petitioners.
l^ote, V^J' which is the plural of “ Lord or
master ” ) is often construed as singular.
To connect.
To promote. — To be promoted.
{Colloquial for ^->1 To inherit.
JT To appoint some one to duty.
or To give» grant) or bestow (to) .
It is not worth while. ( Lit, ) It is not worth
( that much ) .
^^^1^ To send or despatch. To remit.
{W^ith L} To assist) be compassionate with.
Evidently. Apparently. We understand ( that) ,
^LmI It is unfounded.
4)Liif Impoliteness i rudeness.
To cause or occasion. . . . Example :
It will cause inconvenience) we will get into
. trouble. ( is the plural of “cause ”) .
^Luwl To serve on probation. ( Jh-1 is from the French
word “ stage ) .
It is likely or possible y it is not unlikely.
To go through the mill) gain experience
by suffering hardship. (Lit,) To break one’s bones.
To request or ask.
^^4^****^ To call to witness) call in evidence. To cite.
iaz«*1 I cannot afford to buy that. {
means “ ( financial ) ability ” } .
- 714 -
Unutl or ^ UtZiiil To resign.
Smoking, {Lit.) Using tobacco products.
o^U t To make use of i utilize. To profit) benefit*
or be benefited by. To operate * as an account. ..
( of16)1 with 31} To welcome * receive gladly.
To go to meet.
j\ ^ To seek help from,
To ask the opinion of j sound * take the
sense of.
1 To invok C) as a passage of the law. To rely on.
To refuse (to) . Example : y\
He refused to go.
O*^To interpellate.
Vinil ic ition of rights ) demanding the whole
of what is due.
A-l To name. To mention.
{Colloqui al) To get f amous.
To give a name ( to ) .
Coopeiation, ( Setter say
To be employed in. — ^Ij ‘ JUiii ;§
studying.
JUi«( To occupy oneself with* address oneself to,
{Colloquial^ To whet the appetite, {d^
is to filtrate * strain i or clar ify}-
JKil [Colloquial) To make difficulties; obstruct.
To make * or point out* difficulties.
Tears fell down his cheeks.
^ To hit. To fall upon. To attack.
Those endowed with* possessors of. Example:
Learned inen. ( is the plural of
“ owner» possessor”}. C^.
^ To insist on.
To clash. Example: ^CaCU
II nieans “ friction ” } .
To accept or use conventionally.
- 715 -
{^Colloquial } To shave. To have a haircut.
( ) To amend. To reform.
{Colloquial for or J^l jl ) To begin with. Ori¬
ginally. At all. Ex ample :
{Colloquial^ The essential thing.
j)'49L^t In addition to. In excess of.
Peace of mind. Assurance.
^ {Colloquial } To grimace. To monkey. To
show flippant moods. To act coquettishly. ( -’•>^1 is the
plural of “ manner ” } -
j\^\
To state or declare.
^ ^ To believe in. — .sl^l To believe.
^ To rely oh j trust.
^ ^ llStl To pay attention to > pay heed to.
or despatch or send.
or To announce. To proclaim. To notify.
Both . . . and. Example : CjJ j (v*i Both men and
women? also? whether men or women. ((**^1 means “generic
or general” ? it is the comparative degree of “common”) .
JlsO JL&cl To show partial views? be partial. ( Eit.)
To use one’s ( private ) views.
To exercise ( or use one’s) influence.
,<*U£C( Seizing an opportunity.
jJ( j£,\ To exaggerate ( transitive ) ,
To exaggerate ( int rau sitive ) .
Most of the tiiiie.
^ IB
^ e^Ul {Colloquial'] To give oneself airs? boast.
(£»//,) To convey or express. To cause to benefit.
•XIm ^1 ( Colloqui al ) It doesn’t do much good,
means (1) convalescence? (2) margin of hope) .
{Bookish) In violent trepidation. ( Lit . ) !■ ail¬
ing and rising.
4r JU9l '( Bookish or literary ) It may happen that.
^ ^Uc29l I have the honour to.
4) ^ To pride oneself on ? be proud of ? glory in.
- 716 -
To calumniate.
[Colloquial'} To cause a disgrace. To Isring
a disgrace on oneself r fail shamefully.
^ ^^ To go to extremes.
Exceeding i more than.
To regret.
To utter a spell.
To enchant or conjure. To magnetize.
Better than \ superior to.
^ j> ) 4aU 1 To bring an action > lodge a
complaint y or file a suit ( against some one ) .
To adduce an argument.
<? To follow (the example of) i imitate.
^lfcX9l To take necessary action.
<J To believe in.
often with Xo confess.
j\ ^JP j\ Jt To confess : hear (some one) confess.
( Slang } Lousy \ mangy. Nasty.
4) ^ ^sT’^ To content oneself with.
Most of the time.
Majority of votes . — I By a
majority vote.
^ Otherwise i or else. {L,it.) If not.
Even if i even though. ( Lit. ) Also if.
Vi Except that. Only.
Uy£ [In polite conversation} Thank you (very
much, ) . (Lit,) May your favour be great !
^ C^UslI \In polite conversation} To give or grant. .To
be good enough to. To pay attention (usually
^ oIaJI To do or show favour. To incline. [In polite
conversation ) To give.
To be reconciled. (Lit, ) To heal up.
To conciliate. To unite or consolidate. {'Lit:)
To cause to heal up i cicatrize. -
-717 -
{Slang^ Clown ) lout.
Colloquial } To create familiarity.
Oa)''! To Become familiar or sociable.
instill doubts in one’s mind. Also j to
misrepresent a case.
Briefly statingi to sum upi in short, The story.
Colloquial } At random.
( ^olloquial } To play the buffoon.
To act knavishly.
^ ® lewd » indulge i n lewdness o r
profligacy.
^51 And so forth > etc. To the end.
To eternity > forever.
To infinity.
^^Lol {CoJIoquial'^ Who can help. . . ?
To seek ( Of ask for ) quarter.
(11^///? To deposit with.
To hold in trust.
0«^ To take an examinations sit for an examination.
^^1^ i^fkAiAf To extend or prolong.
To be extended.
To abstain.
[Colloquial'} Marriage. ( Lit. ) The good affair.
To earn one’s livelihood. ( means
“ to ( bring to ) pass ” } .
J ’cij To pass > or idle away ? one’s time.
^ [Colloquial } The moderns, ( Lit. ) The people
of to - day.
SbAII* i«tf3A( The undersigned.
To be possible. — It is impossible.
C»*nl It is hoped that.
To lose hopei despair. (Lit.) To cut off one’s hope.
To put one’s hope or trust i rely.
wt^Af To hope.
- 718 -
To spread or noise aBroad. To publish) give
publicity to. To divulge. To circulate or issue.
«ir There is a rumour that.
To be published. To be spread abroad.
To transfer > make over. To transmit.
Jist Jlasi I To be transferred.
^lAxit Of JT To take vengeance. — 1.^
31 To revenge oneself on some one , — 3Mj> fUul
jt Avenge me on him.
To accomplish i do » perform. To comply with i
grant. To fulfil. ( T//. ) To bring to a conclusion.
i
or
To be accomplished or achieved.
To be fulfilled. To come to an end.
To deviate.
<0 To be confined or restricted to. To be a
monopoly of.
To ( take ) measure. To dip.
To keep within bounds.
the stress on the first syllable'] And a frac¬
tion . Ex a??i pie : j Jl— Something over two years,
means “small number i fraction”} .
become familiar > sociable ) or tame.
To judge fairly. {Lit,) To deal out {i. admi¬
nister ) justice.
( To dispense with.
To put in order. To bring under control.
The public view. — In the sight of
the public » to the public view » openly. ( jl-^I jg the
plural of “ sight i view ” ) .
O'^J^ To have a reaction.
J)A§ {Colloquial] He is crack-brained; he
is not right in his upper storey. ( Lit, ) There is some¬
thing wrong with Iiis nose.
Note, in A. means nose ( ) > and the latter
is ;ilso used in P. to mean “brain’ . Hence) the connection.
oU-oj ^obMaif Vicissitudes of time. ( 1 means sudden
change > revolution ” } .
-7 19
wMsJl To have a feeling oi nausea. ( Lit,) To revolt.
To consider as if one has never had
( Of owned ) something.
^ on page 43 ) . Also > to queer a
person’s pitch.
To put ne’s finger.*— ITo wear*
as a ring.
0*^ ^ { Coii quial } To hangj or sponge? on some
one. { is a parasite or hanger - on ) .
Colloquial } To fool with > m.onkey with.
{ Lit, ) To touch slightly with one’s finger .
dismantle. To cause the leaves of ( a hook )
to fall out or come apart Ly long usage. ( oUjI is the
plural of oJj “ leaf ? sheet ” } .
j> To he prior to.
J«to! One who is { Of those who are) endowed with? or pos¬
sessed of » a specified quality? l>elief> craft? etc.
JUj JAI Wife and children ? fari’ily,
{,Oiten uith < } To attach importance to. To
emphasize ? lay stress on. To mind. — ft doesn’t
matter.
( W'ith ^ cy jl) To find fault with ? object to ?
cavil > take exception to. — <^^1^.1 It is in order ? it is
all right ? it will meet with no objection.
{V^ith To order ( S( miC one ) to halt. ( Short
for 1 .
^ To perseveie. To fake energetic action. —
To resist or withstand some one.
uJbcXjf or .j! (In forn/al i/sage '] = (V* I
• • W * • k^7wm ^ O ^ ^
<C;il {Introducing a sentence) The fact that.
I {Colloquial) To fall at one’s feel? cry craven?
admit one’s failure or inability . Also ? to fake off one’s
hat (to some one).
Note. -u3t>il eyPn^l^h ( ivith the stress on the
first syllable) is used as an interjection meaning “Well
done 1 ” Or “ Hear ! Hear ! ”
- 720 -
<3CiT l» Of <0)1 U In spite of the fact that.
^ ^ [Colloquial^ It doesn’t suit me.
f ,5^ To be affected with a swelling.
irs i conceit. (Lit, ) Airs in one’s moustache.
To be exposed to wind > dry. To fly? as a flag.
( Figuratively ) To be discontinued or interrupted .
To air. (Lit,) To expose to the wind. See it ^
To fan.
To swell (with pride) . ( Transitively ) To blow
up. To elate.
{ Slang } 1 ) Tediously long. 2 ) Who buttonholes
or bores one.
Note , Other senses of are dry cupping >
vent - hole ? shaft ( of a mine ) ? etc.
^ (iV To have a sudden ( shooting ) pain. { Lit. ) To
take wind.
OwAaT To be brought up or trained (in a specified way) .
means * fruit or yield’} .
0*5^^ IJV To train? foster? or bring up (in a specified way).
( Intransitively ) To bear fruit.
or JT jU To conceive i become pregnant.
To yield. To fructify. To hold a levee C also
0 ->b fU jU ^ To grant audience ? admit.
Heart - ache ? sorrow. (Lit,) The burden of the heart.
To load. — '✓-Jtr To load something
on to a truck ? load a truck with something . —
To heap insults on some one.
Vilb jb To look curiously or with subtlety. ( Lit. ) To
taper. To become narrow.
^ \S"*J* interrogate.
^ To inquire.
j\j To buy back ? redeem.
jf C-.I To take to task. To call to account.
^Jb To elbow or jostle. { means (upper) arm } .
^§b To h ave a deficit.
^JuT Vb To be trained or brought up (in a specified way).
-721 -
To cost (a specified sum). To swell. (Lit.) To come up. -
■HI i/* Ml; oT O-'i'S jl It makes my gorge rise i it makes
me feel sick.
^ Vl-J To bring ups ns a child. To run ups as a wall.
To spend for. To throw up ; vomit. To raise.
To do ups as one’s hair. To roll (or tuck) ups as one’s
sleeve. To lift. To rise suddenly in price. {Colloquial'] =
OAj-rV(j [Colloquial') To offer a higher price for. To
raise. To carry up.
1) = Vh 2) To embezzle. ( Lit. ) To draw
( Of lift) up. To raise. To turn up.
To take a favourable turns improves
prosper; thrive. (Lit.) To hold up.
( Colloquial ) On account of s due to. For the sake
of. In defence of ; for. (Lit.) Above.
( V^ith j\ Of <;} To amount to.
'^3^ , I** Spite of s notwithstanding. means existence
or presence ) . - <^-:l L In spite of the fact that.
I do not believe.
To take into account. (Lit.) To admit to a play.
{Compound adjective^Slang} Dull and inelegant.
Unprepossessing . Gawky or awkward . Unsociable . (Lit.)
( Of incomplete growth because of having ) grown on a
stunted bush.
(Colloquialj To be increased or multiplied : laid
of money. £ Used especially in the phrase ^ ^
( Lit, ) To produce a young.
To do gallantry; flirt. (Lit.) To incense; fumigate.
To have bad luck. To throw unlucky dice or
receive bad cards. Cf.
•-V (Colloquial } Bad luck { especially in gambling ) .
( From q,v,^.
• • , j\ pO) I hate ....
49 jju To see a person off.
eXOf To introduce something new or heretical.
- 722 -
JL) ( Colloquial cf slat7g } Ill - humoured ard proud.
( in A, means “ necks ” ) .
JO [Colloquial'] Moody. Ill - tempered. in Turkish
means “ mood or habit } ,
j\ To backbite or slander.
To be in debt. — o**. ^ • •
owes me 100 Rials.
To do an ill turn (to) i do ( some oUe) wrong.
Evidentlyi of course. (^?^.)It is evident or obvious.
,JJo To make effort, J*^ means “ to give
generously » offer up ” » and * means “ efforts } .
<r ji I am determined to. I am planning to.
j To cope. To be inferred or gathered. { i-//. ) To
come up. — 1 Cr* -^1 I cannot do it ? I am not in a
position to do it. I am not the mar for it,
C—^ j> [^Colloqui al } It is too big for my fire¬
place i also 1 it is out of ( or beyond ) my depth,
b j\ To encounter » come in contact with.
y To be better off j have an advantage, (l^it.) To win.
JL& j Light - fingered > who steals
and runs away.
t?y have a rough timei be inconvenienced. — C-^-^
To be upset. ( C-^-^ means (1) isthmus j (2) interval
between death and resurrection j ( 3 ) connecting link i
( 4 ) awkward or perilous situation ) .
[Colloquial^ To polish or shine i cause to glit¬
ter. ( v3^ means ‘lightning i electricity ” J .
^y To institute or establish. To instal. To commission.
To glitter i shine > scintillate. See
C'^ jl To b e increased through blessing or by God’s favour.
To make shift > content oneself i get along. To
carry on. To dispose of. - -C-i J o^' V To
dine off bread and cheese. — To pass off » be '
carried on. To be disposed of,
• To divulge. — jsy. To leak out.
- 723 -
y' To have (a thing) a great bargain. { Lit, ) To
get hold of a goat.
To take {or seek) sanctuary.
To be confined to bed.
b To depend on. See
To be put out of patience by harassment. To
be driven to extremities. To be brought to bay.
*0 c.^! It depends on.
O'^V? To pass or spend. To get along j live. To put up
( with ) . To complete. To succeed ( rare or archaic )
( Lit, ) To take ( /. bring ) to an end.
^ To stop j cease » put an end to.
( With the St ress on the first syllable } or 31
{Used as follous) , ( 1 ) .o He
mucii that he fell ill. (2) jlT He
succeeded by dint of perseverance.
Under the stimulus of i by dint of. ( literally
means “ stroke or blow ” } .
O*^O ^ Thereafter. Then > afterwards {often
simply .
C ***>*> It is likely that i I shouldn’t be surprised if.
means far » unlikely i improbable ” } .
^ {Colloquial'] He burst into tears. (<.>•; is spite
Or grudge. — b He was choked with tears.
To buck 5 as a horse .
To 1 ie with > or by the side of . . .
To use or apply. — o^-> To be used.
C Colloquia 1 } Completely. Categorically . —
He made a flat denial. means “virgin y intact”) .
{Colloquial ) To know (such and such a place or
subject) » know how to do. {Lit .) To be a guide or escort.
{Colloquial ) To consider as a windfall. To take
advantage of the occasion. {Lit.) To catch a fly.
{^i^^^^] 1 ) To pilfer* also* to embezzle. 2) To
pick up* as a woman. ( ^f ) Xo raise.
4b <b {Colloquial] Yes-man* sycophant.
- 724 -
mmIuj On the occasion of . ( means “ fitness or
suitability i also > relation} .
c—1 ^ He (she j it) is due to arrive to - day.
J li) Of 4) ly According to > on. — Therefore.
. . , 4r jU ly It was agreed that. Example : -«^
T ly To begin. Example : >/ ^ He began to eat.
( Lit, ) To build.
ly To lay the foundation (of) .
^mJuT ay To stop \ cease to flow.
ay To stop or staunch. To block.
<j ^ai ay {Col loqaial'] To hang on sponge on.
^ To suspect or scent, {Lit.) To smell.
{Colloquial') To look blank i be baffled in one’s
plan. To fail disgracefully.
^ j^ To baffle or disconcert ? balk one’s hope.
To allow to be kissed.
*3-^ blow the horn : said of drivers.
It savours of . . . (^^^.) It smells.
To make a pretext » make excuses.
To pretend. Example: He pretended
to be drunk.
<> calumniate > accuse falsely.
Ui^ So much the better for you.
To enjoy. To profit by.
4) yTo pay no attention to. To be regardless of.
^To ease nature. (E>it.) To go out.
sack » dismiss i discharge,
o' is to be feared that.
V
(,£“'' 15 '^!) H To involve (some one) in a difficulty.
w—S-i ^ To anger a wasp. ( Lit To tread
on a dog’s tail.
^ail b {Colloquial'] To get up. To become erect.
To put on i wear on the feet .
- 725 -
c.-f JL- jj
T is going on for the age of 20.
(Lit.) His foot is in (i. e. on the right side of) 20 years.
ij\ji . . . It is nothing short of. . . .
To put down j drop. To lower.
To come in sight J appear. To happen. To originate.
^ To cause to appear or happen.
entertain or receive.
digress j deviate from the main lubject
( ) To fall down.
Jb J To grow strong or show up new courage.
( . ) To he fledged .
jt^A To he on diet.
OA'a J»/ { Colloquial ) To show off i put on airs i assume
a pose. ( is from the Fr. pose }
To fall behind. To fall in arrears. To fall on
one’s hack.
To delay the payment of. To postpone. {Slang
and derogatofy ) To bring forth.
c.-j' Down with. . . ; ( means “ low ” )
^wUh ^ 4 ^^^ Ups and downs.
To decline. ( L,it. ) To go hack i also i get out of
the way.
‘^'^,’^Lri To draw hack. To ebb i flow hack. To displace.
To retract} as one’s word. (Lit,) To take hack.
T 1) To please. Example: -uU -c-.. Ij ji n 2 ) To he
admired or selected.
fjrA ^ xjA To change the places of. To adjust.
jS-uJ To feather one’s nest. (Lit.) To tie one’s hack.
^jm To backbite some one. ( Lit, ) To
talk behind some one’s hack.
To turn a somersault.
^i'} To hack j support » give a knee to.
^ To puff ( a pipe ) .
jwlid {Slang'\ To look blue i hang down the head i
pull a long face.
- 726 -
[Slang) To scratch along* scrape through; hang
around ( about )
cU# My goodness ! (Lil.) (I take ) refuge in God.
i) oU> To take (or seek) refuge in.
To grip(e) or clutch.
'^j To break a lance. ( Lif. ) To make one s
hand { or fingers ) supple.
To offer an apology 7 apologize.
^ 7 -^* To skin over » scab.
jr To peel off i scale off.
To make or raise ( collect ) money.
Tipi drink-money. (Lit,) Tea - money.
ji JH-S- ,J^ To turn an honest penny. (Lit.) To
earn lawful money .
oh (tttbb Come off your perch. (Lit,) Get off
( your horse ) and let us walk together.
<j To trace or discover. To penetrate into.
Ji-^ {Colloquial ) He didn’t turn up. (Lit.) He did
not appear or could not be found. '
<) *Ul^ To embellish or ornament. -
To go by > observe. (Lit.) To follow. '
-0^ ballyrag some oiie.
j\ ® march on i
take the wind of the sail of. '
To die before some one.
. ^mS’ (^) To go to meet some one.
To choose? as one’s profession j follow.
h • . . • To apply oneself assiduously to ... .
( Lit. ) To follow the track of something.
H
To impress or touch.
Structure. ( Lit. ) Warp and woof.
jU It is nothing new > this is no news to me.
t) To regret.
<> ^ To follow i take model from.
- 121 -
y—r oT To provide for one’s future. (/w a b ad
tense ) To feather one’s nest.
b X(o)u To make do with something! make something do.
To take some one’s temperature fever)*
^ To exceed. To violate.
^ To revise.
OidU To outshine > eclipse i surpass .
(^^UiJlc-wsT literally means “under the ray”) .
jT* lju ,3^Pt) To prove to be true.
To domineer over i lord it over.
^ To digest or assimilate.
jidj To be digeMed. To be wasted. — *^-1
He is much reduced .
O'S'a >y.s=>^ To deliver i hand over. — To take
delivery of.
^ To offend against {also .>1 JT .
To make preparations. To prepare or provide.
To point out. {W^//j 6 *;) To remind. To notify.
^ d To give effect j give a follow>up to.
J- To be irresolute » waver. ( . ) To be
doubtful about one’s opinion.
cr ila-T To put on the shelf. Example t
jjl-iC II (Z.//.) .To preserve in pickles.
To cause to abandon .
or To offer one’s condolences to.
To console or comfort.
• • • ^r* They found that . . .
{/« polite conversation') . To come or arrive,
means “honouring”). — j\ To go. — dijJta
To be or stay.
To thank i express one’s thanks to .
To form » callj as a meeting. To organize. —
yit J*Cir te formed. To be held .
b To collide with. To happen to meet. To fall
on. Example: >jsy
-’? 28 -
ftijf c.yj>-a.' {Same'q. v.).
21'^'^ trouble or inconvenience,
0 »>^ \S *To bring about changes in the condition of.
means “ possession ” ) .
^iUJI To take a decision \ arrive at a conclusion.
To determine.
p-
^ compare. To check. To adapt. To apply.
( Intransitively )'To conform.
jl {Col loquial'^ To speak highly of.
<0 ^10 To belong to. — Cr*~f To be chargeable or
payable. To accrue. To go (to) * To fall (to) .
jju J*J^**"' To make excuses. To procrastinate.
^ deep into.
To change i alter,
j To augur. To divine.
j> ■ 3“ To gain superiority over. To surpass.
y To be prior to.
To make a present of i offer. { jfw polite con ~
vers at ion \'Yo give.
c—He is to blame. (L>it.) He is guilty*^
f { ^olloquial } -To mimic people. To niock.
To play the buffoon.
reduce or diminish.
To suggest or propose.^ To impose. {With .}
To require V impose on .
To lean. To cause to lean.
j\ To lean on. To rely on.
j\ To take vengeance on some one».(
oMi ( Col loqui al } To sail : walk in a stately or
graceful manner.
T 1^0 or ^2 ?jT {^^ith h ) To contact i’.get
into contact -with i get in touch with.
JT To expire > /. die, ( Lit, ) To finish.
To stretch oneself (lit, one’s nerves) i' relax.
{With 31 or To flatter.
- 729 -
To request.
To distinguish i tell. To appeal ( or go ) to the
Supreme Court.
To take an extreme course j go to great lengths,
( Lit. ) To go ( too ) fast.
jlf Mi {Of a watch'] To go too fast. (Z./7.) To work fast.
^To degrade. To reduce in price.
jaiS To hate or dislike.
^ C Cr To put on i wear.
f u^r {^For I To be annoyed to excess. To be
driven to extremities. ( means “ narrow (place) -
j) tiC; Xo drive to extremities.
jostled or pushed against. means “trunk
or body”} and means “ to receive
To shove j jostle or push against.
'l.’T , jiiy Unanimous vote. — I Unanimously.
f To join or link together. ( Lit, ) To twin .
To fire a cannon or gun. To throw a ball.
To bid Or bet Curds j . To kick a ball . —
vy (•)•*'."^ To go it blind.
Cooperation. (Lit,) Unification of efforts.
t-9 Jp To twang \ speak through the nose.
(^) ^ J> To give a rebuff (to) . ( Lit, ) To strike
a blow at one’s mouth .
^ To bid farewell to.
[For the intermediation of. Through. Care of.
To expand or develop.
To be expanded or developed.
To explain (lit. give an explanation ) .
To conspire or complot.
Blessing in disguise. (Lit.) Compulsory grace.
To expect .
<> 0;^^ Jf y To rely on i trust in.
^ To moult.
<r To sink. (Lit.) To go to the bottom.
*i> To draw to an end.
-730
<> ® ^ ^ charge aganisi. - c.j'^
Calumny .
To make preparations.
{Colloquiali) To be kicked out > get the push.
(V is^(a kick with the ) tiptoe } .
^IjOl jC To shoot* (an anow ) . - To be shot.-
i.«.r To shoot, as a pain. To twinge with pain.
jj To fart > break wind.
2i\i- Ji ^ To bury the hatchet (lit. the sword) .
To be set or reduced > as a bone. To be passed
off > also > get married. To become mellow.
To set or reduce* as a bone. To pass off.
To displace* dislocate. To settle. To put in
shape. To dispose of (one’s money) prudently.
j\^ or To cry or proclaim.
To leave out.
b- To hold. To take room. To reserve a seat.
^b- To materialize i carry out, (^^*^.) To cause
( something ) to wear the clothes of action or execution.
..XmU olS) wjb To take the part of some one.
To give up the ghost i expire { also oV or
J- ^.Lr oV } . To give life (to ) . {SI ang ) To be very
suitable,
jjli . . . To succeed . . . To replace . . .
jiii [For oV c/.O Your devoted servant » /. I.
.... There is no ground for . . .
.—^1 { Colloqui j1 ) Scarcely {ivtth a sub^unc tive
V6rb'\ . Exupi c / JL- c.ae** He is scarcely
20 years old.
J^b To muster (up) on^’s courage. ( ) To
give oneself courage.
^JU) f {^Colloquial } To play the woman.
._r’ J CLj^ To modify or ada[>t. ( ^it. ) To wound
and adjust.
Afj-> To form a circle.
- 731 -
( Cc?i } To jingle or tinkle.
Hard cash, J ingling (money) .
Course {or march) of events.
^y?" In detail. In parts or sections.
CJi'^ iCoUoquial'^ To implore
earnestly. ( L,it. ) To frizz or crackle.
In numbers. In sections. In pamphlets.
To venture. To presume. To take liberties.
©jL^p- I have the liberty to say i I venture to say.
To jump or leap.
To throw doublets.
V wAp- To pair with 1 join in sexual intercourse. To fit.
To rime with. To match » go with.
^yiSjTc-Ap* To couple or pair. To match. To fit or join toge -
ther. {Pigufatfvely) To invent or fabricate. To compose.
under o^> on
page 633 ) .
^heart melted with pity > I was greatly
touched. {Lit.) My liver was roasted.
To emigrate i go into exile.
To set forward j as a clock.
O^jUdf ^^ip- To get ahead of > get the start of > leave be¬
hind. To get the upper hand of.
To push forward. To promote. To give priority to.
To gain > as a watch. { Vf^ith jl } To outpace j get
ahead of.
(,5-r To check ? or control » some one.
To carry Or push forward. To advance.
To set forward) as a clock.
gather together i rally.
To add up. {Figuratively ) To consider one with
the other.
y Close up! means ‘^closer or more compact”)-
^C^Acp* Peace of mind » composure.
- 732 -
His Excellency . . .
To kick up a row. To jangle.
^ Duel. ( L,it. ) Fighting between two.
JoiU To wear one’s years well.
To bud i sprout » germinate.
^ *1**^ rejuvenize.
Oi/ To assort. To pack > as cards.
4,^^ To inquire.
*T*' Double ignorance i ignorance of him who con¬
siders himself wise.
51
It cannot be helped^ it is inevitable.
To slit or rend. — {Slang} To pad it >
pad the hoof i also > take to one’s heels.
or To strut i as a peacock,
^ To suppurate .
To wink.
(AT”) owUUi <> But alas : (Lit,) Of what use is it (when ) ?
? What is his occupation or profession? What is he?
.. . <r eaiUj iSjt^ Example : oT .j;Lj
He barely missed falling into it. [ ^ means
“ Nothing was left.” } .
hSj*^ It doesn t matter, {Eit,) Jt is nothing (serious) .,
c
To need j be in want of.
grant some one’s request.
( <S ) Ul^ { With the stress on the first syllable) Far
from it ! God forbid !
J To call the rolls. ( and mean
“ present and absent ” respectively ) ,
To indicate. To state. To forebode.
To (come to) hold a position.
O^. ^ Bias 7 likes and dislikes.
To be incumbent on.
Minimum. - ^in a> Maximum.
- 733 -
Oi4.^ To guess.
To beware. To shun or avoid.
^<1-9To talk sense.
A) O Mind what you are saying. (Lit,) Under¬
stand the word of thy mouth.
I could not prevail on him I was not a match
for him i I could not cope with him.
wL»> To render an account.
To be present? come. {With j:>) To attend
To enjoy i like very much .
3^ You are right.
. 0 ^ To despise ; trifle with i think scorn of.
To alter or modify. ( Lit. ) To erase
and amend.
^The story goes that.
* [ Colloquial ) U { or he) is marvellous. ( Lit, )
It is (worthy of being made into) a story. -
It is strange indeed !
To rule over i govern.
3^ -9 3 ^' Creature comforts.
Note. ^ means “ pharynx ” , i. e. eating i ^ is
“masturbation”, and .3^^ is “ (coarse , woollen) garment”.
kASC ^ Management, {Lil/) Untying and tying.
flJLo To drudge or fag. ( Lit. ) To be a porter i
carry loads . a
J To protect. To take the part of. To patronize.
■J* 3^^ To interpret as 1 ascribe to i take to be.
^ am not in the mood, (c'l.,*' means **senses**}
CjK*' Limits of possibility i possible limits, {j- means
“ extension ” ) . - c_l ^<.1 ^ 3 , ^ impossible.
^ <JL5»- To oUv —
Indecent. (Lit.) Out of decent bounds.
<il:> To bring to ruin. (Lit.) To cause (a person’s)
house to be destroyed.
- 734 -
■a- ^{^Add the following E. E. ) •' —
To lick some one’s feet • kiss the hem of. his garment.
^ fi.X^ \^W^ith 1; or 31 } To bid fate well to » say
good “ bye to > take one’s farewell of.
Inquietude) anxiety. {Lit.) A scratch on the mind.
state of affairs. means “ ruined
condition ” } .
^ To find fault with > cavil.
0./Lm^ To sustain a loss or damage.
j\ OjLi^ To damage i cause a loss to.
slXjL^ To run dry i dry up.
To dry up i drain.
or ( Col lot^ulal ^ To chap .i
To be pleased or satisfied with.
? U»jt ^wUa^ Whom are you addressing }
Ua^ To go the wrong way i make a mistake.
To cross out j write off.
jrj- Route i itinerary.
Policy. ( Lit. ) Route followed in walking.
Light - mindedness.
To suffer disgrace.
C}j^ ,w.A^ FlightinesS) caprice.
Irregular.
To contradict or disprove.
To do wrong. To comiiiit a
minor offence.
- *3 f'VL ,2^ To disarm.
To dispossess of .
To break one s promise or an appointment.
To damage or harm.
Sincerity. Immaculate intention.
To gape or yawn. ( Figuratively ) To aspire
or long.
w i. .j xo cause to laugh) set laughing.
- 735 -
oO Xo raise a laugh.
iSji^ dream of something.
To despise i hold in contempt.
Whether I go or not.
(***y Oi It is a good thing that I did not go i it was
fortunate that I did not go.
. . . <r wj
^ You did well to . . .
To make up (or ingratiate oneself)
with some one. ,) To make oneself sweet with some one.
To rub in, ( Lit, ) To give to eat.
To hit* strike on ; collide with. Alsoj to touch.
Happy ( or blessed ) is he who.
You are welcome.
Enjoy yourself ; have a good time.
To please or like. To make merry.
*A*T J liked it > I was pleased with it.
His blood is up. Cf,
tSjb It threatens to rain.
U** y {,^olloqi4i al } He was catricd of/ by illu-
sior. He began to think much oj himself.
To have a happy ending. To be blessed.
Address of welcome.
lib To plead for justice.
.^b To hang { also jT j|a, j
{Colloquial'] I am eating. — p.:-b
I was eating.
(^b To brand or cauterize.
y Jb Denoting » proving. Expressive of.
i^bb To take a wife for.
Vu ^tb To be prepared for work. ( Lit, ) To tuck up
the skirt.
^^b { Poetical ) T o turn aside. ( Lit, ) To draw
in > tuck » or gather j one’s skirt.
- 736 -
= C>wcr*lj IJcr'I (which
also means figuratively “ to aggravate the condition ” ) ,
yJi To the effect that.
\Sj^ ^ encounter something > suffer it > be
involved in it ( also 0**^ iSJ^ ^ } .
JT To involve ( in a difficulty ) .
jjW ... It has nothing to do with ... It cannot
be compared to . . .
In acknowledgment of i in consideration of.
jJUsiS" To lie down, ( means long ” } .
jT To begin. To prelude.
To rise* as the sun. To shoot or spring. To be earned.
To submit of solution. To turn or prove. Example :
4-« I {See also .) To come out.
To bring out. (Figuratively) To show or produce.
To render. To compose > as a song. To put forth (leaves).
To work out » solve. — I ^ O jt They turned
her out well.
To hire ( or charter) whole.
To keep track of . . . To keep abreast of.
To confer honouis on. To promote to a higher
rank or degree.
To request or ask. To apply to.
iijtS or To suffer pain (especially (he pains
of childbirth ) .
To be painful i ache. — I have a
headache. — <*a j ache all over.
jCi ( ^ercio ) ( Slang ) Pert.
C Colloquial ) To run away. To go off ? as a gun.
To be dislocated 7 as a joint. — 31 To dodge
or shirk a duty.
To knock at the { or a ) door.
To study. — To teach.
To open a discussion.
To be about ( to do something ) . . . . .
To plan or intend to do something.
- 737 -
^ To send greetings to. To praise.
To be confused. To be ravelled.
To interweave.
O'^^ei To wind or twist together.
To get angry i be upset. To frown.
To break up.
(9^^^ To become entangled or snarled. To mesh.
To perceive or understand. To find out.
To regret.
To withhold. To spare.
To shake hands. To afford an opportunity. To
take place.
I find no leisure { to do that ) . I am not tall
enough (to reach that ) .
The victim of ( or to) i exposed to .
To help ! give a relief to. ( L/t.) To fake
( some one’s ) hand.
00^ Lj J To fling one’s limbs about i struggle with
twitching limbs i flounce up and down.
To hate. (L/7.) To consider as an enemy.
To abuse or insult.
To be invited ; have to go to an invitation.
J' To defend,
• *
<*9.AJ From time to time. Each time.
To speak affably to i encourage by soft words.
I am not so very pleased with him
{ on account of his past behaviour ) .
To flatter oneself.
To d iscourage gome one ( often
O^J' ) .
* • • I have not the heart to . . . { Originally
. . . ^ doesn’t come to my heart to } .
To give a reason {oi reasons) *> adduce an argument.
* j^, To take complete vengeance
47
- 738 -
on some one. means ** perdition or destruction ** J .
f L) jajTJlj O . To blow one’s nose.
^ To go away with one’s
tail between one’s legs (lif. on one’s back ) .
,5 At the door.
^ Designed for everyday use . — criJ-^
Everyday set.
( At ) dawn. Early (in the) morning.
To follow . . . To go along with. . .
To teethe » cut one’s teeth.
^Iju^ or ^ To bite with the teeth.
To endure to stay. To last.
j1 ji Twice as much ( or as many ) as.
^ j To ride double.
^ To sew up f sew together.
JT To keep aloof from. To avoid.
It is second to none.
pl&A below his position.
To pay a visit to (also 31 } .
Interchange of visits i paying and repaying visits,
jf To be late.
Ji^ ^Colloquial } I was late.
^ jL^ Soon(er) or late(r) .
<iC>T Of 45CjL)( Moreover » furthermore.
{Col loqui al for So much the better.
^ *r ^ Honourable or favourable mention (of a person) .
s:Ji To suffer (hardship) .
To infect one’s mind. {means
“ tainted or mixed ” } .
There was not a soul there.
J
{Intransitively'] To rest.
To be fond of > have a predilection for.
-^*5 0*3^i3 eU To admit to i allow to enter-
- 739 -
ta}j To connect.
J To be conversant with.
(^) To promote to a higher grade.
To be promoted.
Management 9 handling, ) Closing and opening
j> J To have preference over > be better than.
Of Sy^ith <;} To be jealous of* envy,
To receive a bribe { often ,
4^ C^Cj To have a relish for i take a delight in.
See also <i
«
Tender - heartedneflB J tender heart.
^ J To rouse. To cause to shy. To scare .
To put in circulation. To propagate. {^Collo¬
quial } To perform.
To allow. To pronounce lawful. — 'JJ Ij^-^ o^-U-
To supply or meet some one’s needs.
... 4) Jj To begin to . . . Example : c-ai-LT <. jj
It began to improved also j he began to recover.
To brisk up. To flourish.
Audacity* face. Example: Audacity to
beg. Cf, on page 3 48.
J
3 Reproduction » procreation.
j> Surplus to. More than * exceeding.
ji> Dumb (or mute) language.
He is not amenable to reason. (Li^.) He knows
no language .
JA U To take the reins of government.
C<^3a3 To soothe or console the heart. (Lit,) To
file away the rust from one’s heart.
{^Poetical } God forbid that. . . ,
To seek quarter or protection.
To decline. To fade or disappear.
0^33 To howl or peep.
- 740 -
*
Formerly^ in the past.
AJbKmi Record of service. — <iL- JL- t • jl
*
He has 20 years service.
? 0^1 C-CpLh ( also * What time is it ?
JLj JL» From year to year » each year.
eLt JL»» [Colloquial ) Year in year out. (Ijt.) (In)
the year which has twelve months .
Of [Bookish'^ Xo cast a shadow.
4>L» To shade or shadow.
excel. To get the upper hand of .
,Jsr“ To wear a moustache.
. J* To be grateful to.
(**?) To thank i give thanks ( to) .
* e.^UM ( See also in Part One ) .
To cover one’s nakedness.
^ OiiTo oppress » do injustice to.
To obstruct or block. To close.
<s jM Add I broke the neck of the task.
j ( Bookish or Poetical ) To lift the head.
To peer or shine.
ivulge a secret or publish
a fact » let the cat out of the bag. ( Lit, ) To unlid or
uncover a thing.
cSisT To keep something secret.
1) Over the hand. 2) In labour.
To be in a dilemma. (Lit,) To be at
a loss what to do where the road forks.
*Uitj j*it To acquire skill. ( literally means
“ the end of a thread ” } .
,_r ^ h j€ Oj To be on the wrong scent. Cf, the
preceding entry,
,j*^ ^ ^ little bit. ( Lit, ) Point of a needle
or hair. ( Usually ^ .
- 741 --
jm Raw head and bloody bones. He
who has a black head and white teeth. Cf. j
To exceed the speed-limit. ( J~tit, ) To have
speed i be (too) fast.
jP cX jmt To drive fast{er) \ step on the gas.
0 j^jm* {See on page 367).
At work .
0*iwUP jm To divine by means of a book. (
literally means “ the top of a book ” ( ragarded as the
proper place to touch when opening it in bibliomancy )V
To take effect i materialize. To set in* as rain.
^^ To catch a cold ( ^/V, eat cold).
0 j^ jm To serve as an example. means a copy
slip ” > and » figuratively » “ a model ) .
jm To set an example. Cf, the precedhig entry,
0 ^^ jJtx jm To take example.
Equals* fellowmen. {J^it,) Heads and consorts.
0.3^ . • . To deserve . . .
To leave blank.
Public levee, (f^ is “ greeting or salutation .
^To take the salute.
jLiXj p3Lt To hold a levee.
If
J 3 ^ Misinterpretation.
Misunderstanding.
To suspect.
#*•
Attempt (on some one’s life), (j^-//.) Evil intention.
To profit by » be benefited by.
To purvey ( articles of food ) j cater.
C in Turkish means “ provisions ” ) .
To train a horse for the race.
Slip of the tongue* lapsus linguae.
Slip of the pen • lapsus calami.
'*'*^T* Context. Style of an expression.
“ No smoking allowed ” ,
- 742 -
^ CI- Details » enlargement. Foliage > herbage.
(Jls^), J«-cUi It does not apply to them,
. . . 4r' Is below his dignity to . . .
JJ J To cite (as ) an example. ( Lit. ) To produce
a witness.
JT jUblw To call to witness.
Of ^He did not live out the night.
To stay up all night. ( Lit. ) To keep the
night alive.
To admit ( or suppose ) for the sake of
argument. (Lit.) To take a doubt on its strong side.
j> surprise by night.
O***-*^ To be aggravated or intensified. (Used especially in
the worst i at its highest degreei at most”).
jit ( Politc substitute for O'^^) To come (to meet).
( literally means “ finding honour j honoured ” ) .
j\ ^jm To be ashamed ( or too modest ) to .
(^jipUAT jm To be put to shame.
. . . <0 ^^ He began to . . .
4^ kIXZ To hesitate in believing.
^ ^ J<y There is do doubt about it.
To give thanks.
^ To be defeated . ( At school ) To fail
( usually 0-^ ) .
To defeat or beat.
To show deference to r listen to (the advice of).
iS Half jest and whole earnest. ( Lit. ) A
joke worse than ( something said in ) earnest.
* ^ A
yjwtji* • • . • Azaam* To be enamoured of . . .
'b (^Colloquial'} To play a trick on. (origi*
nally means “ style or method ” } .
^ ^ Also> to square or balance (accounts with some one),
a-My patience was ( or has been) tried. ( Lit. )
My patience was (or is) finished.
- 743 -
Honesty > integrity,
^ jCt^^ Good health.
jsifjr <pw^ To endorse or sign. To sanction.
C*m\ That is right. O. K. Approved, (/w the Parlid-
tnent } Hear ! Hear ! ( N6>/ irotitcal } .
Ij Footfall.
To make a noise. — (jU^ To call.
To call. {Intransitively } To make a noise.
To ring : said of a bell.
•p
AawW To be injured. To experience hardship.
{ often with } To injure or hurt.
{Colloquial'] To deem (it) advisable.
or To shout or cry.
^* 5 *^ To pronounce the formula ( e, complete
the formalities ) of a specified legal transaction.
J Sa^ Management i control. ( Lit, ) Retaining and
connecting.
y. To inflict a blow on.
^ J To cause to sustain a loss .
Xp
or To throw dice.
^ To cog (the) dice.
I I cannot support or endure that.
ciU? To endure i bear i hold out.
To construct an arch (over) i vault (over) .
fr*' To publish. (Lit,) To print and publish.
c:> To make a scheme,
the Parliatnent } Members’ bill.
Trustworthy.
y ^\Xm To enter into quarrel with. To oppose. To lie
with .
^To be granted a divorce
--lb ^ 31 JU^ - j.>
by ') be divorced from.
1 owe him 200 rials i
200 rials is due him by me.
-? 44 -
jl To press for payment of a debt » dun.
kJljh To go round i circumambulate.
jjy AIbo } the battleaxe.
■ e-
To pay or return i fetch.
To be earned. ~ -at U jl j earned 100 rials,
.>1 OjLc To consist of.
Traffic » passage. — J To
lift the curfew. - J>r^ “No thoroughfare’’,
! c**-f It is surprising,
<U^C I am in a hurry (for it.)
To mourn.
^^ To be resolved » resolve (upon doing
something ) .
A- To set about for i or start on > a journey.
<1 J^jT To 1 eave for.
3*“^ To make love.
O’-^ To join a society (os a member).
To be retroactive. ( Lit, ) To refer or
advert to what is past.
Inferiority complex, {••‘ip means “ a knot” ) .
C?**** To photograph i take the photograph of.
j\ In addition to, ~ at^ Furthermore ? besides.
Magnanimity. (Lit, ) Loftiness of nature.
Higli ambition. Also > generosity.
o<A«hC The chief point i the main subject.
0.i^C To return i send or give back.
’S To (ex)change.
To mistake ( for another person or thing ) . —
a.! You are mistaken; I am not the man you
are looking for i you have chosen the wrong man.
To conclude a trea ly
followtfig phrases']
I
To be able to do i or succeed in doing > something . —
^ 745 -
“r**"** ’ “nderUke
{. to do ) ; accept ( also •■‘t^ ) - jliii jj
delayed or postponed. ( means “ charge i trust} res¬
ponsibility ) etc. ” } .
^To wear glasses.
*
£
{Colloquial} Rumbling noise. Croaking.
^ <laAC To envy or emulate.
4^0^ There is nothing strange about it.
OiSb U . . . To indemnify for... i compensate...
To clamour or exclaim.
/ tfi ^ Creaking noise.
<lc To run a race i participate in a competition.
J To prevail {or win) over. To overcome or defeat,
laic I made a mistake and I repent for it.
Note, The E, phrase given here is not strong
enough to render the P. If , for instance i a servant does
something wrongs to reproach him with the phrase
would amount to reviling or insulting him.
{Poetical ) Nay. { Lit, ) I made a mistake.
Reticence } preterition.
OhAAC {Colloquial } To grumble.
Free agent} (one) having free will.
{ ^ith the stress on the first syllable} Well
Example : a;, VIj if he pays it ^
well} but if not» I will go to law. { Vr* means in A
“ Then in that ” ) .
Csd To excite a sedition or revolt} raise a disturbance.
\SJ^ To pronounce a judgment or decree ( especially
on a point of religious jurisprudence ) .
^ To revile } abuse foully.
* { ^ith } To pride in.
Farther up } higher.
\,^ To summon. To recall.
- 746 -
I ^ To hold up. To lend » as the eat.
,.jUiwj \ To come ( about ) . To befall. C ^ } To
overtake or reach.
.^9 ^ fo acquire or learn. To envelop* embrace. To merge.
^ ^ } It is not suitable for me .
^wC ^ To be put to flight.
^ To assemble i bring together. To gather. To
bring about i effect.
^ ^ To appeal to the Supreme Court.
i; To differ from.
Ordered by Mr. ...”
(/w polite conversation^ To speak* say*
make a remark {^often t*^>*-;* ^ .
j To excite a sedition .
^ To suppurate.
JC9 {^Colloquial } To begin to think,
l;9 To be annihilated. To be ruined entirely.
M *
Above or beyond.
m
oi’ •>’ Jt* Before this. Previous to this.
0.9J j\ Ld Ahead of time > beforehand.
^JU,9 {Used as an adjective'] . Example oLiUj JV—-:-!
tt No smoking allowed ” .
<r L-—*1^1 jji So much is certain that.
^JUd To march. Cf.
{In polite conversation ) To ( take the
trouble to ) come. means “ troubled or painful” ) .
^s9j ^ To take aim .
. • • • ^ To fall a victim to ... . ( To be
sacrificed for . . .
Honoured. { OtJ* means ** coupled * allied *
symmetrical ” } .
Obliged ’* thankful. See Oij* above.
To break off relations * come to a rupture
-? 41 -
^ An item at a time i one by one. In detail.
J i .5 Concise and expressive. ( Lit. ) Be jj
expressive .
^ Assurance. Courage. Stout heart,
i::-! ^ His word is as good as his bond.
It came to the pinch i it became cri¬
tical ( Lit, ) Things came to a narrow place.
To do away with a person.
jS* To work in place > instal > fix.
^.^1 He can t do anything » he is not in a
position to do anything. ( here means “done or ac¬
complished ” } .
One who is ungrateful for favours done him
( by God ) .
o jtS" Long usage.
Manual labour i toil.
To reap what one has sown.
To restrain oneself i have self-control.
^ His tongue runs on wheels; he is
) He has eaten a sparrow^s head. C/.
e ol E, pvb , He hath eaten the hen’s rump » which
ts pethaps of Italiafi ofigtn^
Few persons, means “fewer or less ” ) .
^ To slight ; underestimate i think nothing of.
fir or ^yj To walk. To pace .
olP (Every) now and then. means “untimely”).
yP' ( Provincial ) To chatter. To talk idly.
C-.A ( Colloquial } I am ( or feel ) hungry.
Oo-'C-Jr To make (or go ) one’s rounds. To take a walk.
To cruise. ( With ) To patrol.
J >l-f* To refresh oneself ( with a drink ) etc . )
(Lit, ) To wet one’s throat. Cf,
To pay the duties on» and clear* from the Customs.
^To go too far ( in doing gomelhing
notoriously indecent or wrong ) i be outrageous in one s
conduct i alsoj make a mess of it. .) To cause it to stink.
,_g )y To be on the alert V keep one’s weather
eye open. (See ^on page 629 ) .
juju^ \j He paid through his nose . See also and
Cf, \j^
J
JJuT AjV C Bookish ) To be( come ) necessary i be deemed
necessary. To follow or result.
J f».>V Correlative. Interdependent.
pretend to be dumb. To represent
a dumb show.
be worthy of » deserve.
UuSVt , 50 ) ( I adal-eghteza ) On occasion i as circumstances
may alio w.
ijU> To become necessary » be a necessity.
aAJU« SjS I deem it necessary to point out.
^j\jo ( It ) is not necessary.
(A.) Disappointing or negative (reply ) . Irrelevant
(answer) . (Lit.) Thou shalt not see me (reply given* to
Moses when he craved for seeing God } .
jja s^jiTohe slurred over. {Of a case) To come to a stage
where the judge finds it impossible to pronounce a judg¬
ment i hence 1 to disappear or be dismissed. (Lit.) To be
contaminated or polluted.
\j , , * • * * ' 3 ^^
j{ .iOto Surplus to.
Beyond '» above.
Before. - Penultimate.
C-.** 0 * is not mine,
o eJlJU Also y let us call off the(cardB.)
JT To dwell Or lodge.
tOjU Beyond or besides. — Transjordan.
-749
To embark on ( of upon ) .
Notorious for debauchery.
... 4) Whose nom-de-guerre is ( or was ) . . .
^ Professing a (specified ) religion.
# _
j^kt^jSA To look for an opportunity.
O'** ■*; } To trust or rely on.
Legal ground or authority .
<) Bounded by.
.^0 JiXoa (One) appointed to some position) (man) of place.
To be excused. (Used especially in such phrases
as Cr^J I ( am sorry I ) cannot go ) .
Suitable for » fit for.
O To cease to exist. To lose its point.
O
To render defective. To mutilate.
^ ^ To thread. To string.
Lintel. (J-- means “ a horseshoe ) .
J->' .> The best one. ( L//. ) The first one.
To mortify (lit. kill) one’s passions,
wl&i To wear a mask. To veil oneself.
hAA; To sell for cash.
Written or compiled by.
jT To say one’s prayers.
Twinge ( lit, sting ) of conscience.
J
JaAjL Possessing the necessary qualifications j
duly qualified.
^ Also ) to involve.
Habitual phrase.
Invitation card.
- 750 -
«jb {^Colloquial tof j**-* ^ } No matter how much V
however.
^ Nothing is better than that. . .
Such that. So that.
Every day. ( Poetical ) All day long.
That was {, Of is ) all,
^jLj^ To identify something.
I
Alphabetical list of
Proverbs, idioms, and phrases used as
English equivalents for the
Persian entries In this book,
{Some of these merely afford material for comparison
with the Persian entries ) .
( The numbers refer to the pages of the book ) .
A
A bad thing never dies. 482
A bad vessel is seldom broken. SO
A bad workman quarrels with (or blames) his tool. 2 36
A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion. 515
A beggar’s purse is bottomless. 6*47
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 185 » 257 5
351 , 328
A blind man may sometimes shoot a crow. 340
A blind man will not thank you for a looking-glass. 1 8 j 335
A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a
sword. 244 j 551
A broken friendship may be soldered) but will never be
sound. 143
Absence makes the heart grow fond. 2 1 7
A burden of one’s choice is not felt. 52 5
A burnt child dreads the fire. 36 2
Accident will happen. 53
Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves. 514
a chip of the old block 11
A clear conscience fears no accusers ( or laughs at false ac¬
cusations ) . 119 ) 293 ) 393
48
A creaking door hangs long on its hinges. 50
Action is the proper fruit of knowledge. 302
Action speaks louder than words. 220
add fuel to the fire 6 ) 7 35
address oneself to 714
adduce an argument 737
adequate to the task 641
A drowning man will catch at any straw. 38
Adversity often leads to prosperity. 43
A favour ill placed is a great waste. 233
afford an opportunity 737
afford time 6Q3
A flow will have an ebb. 43 > 412 j 418 > 429
A fool knows more in his house than a wise man in
another’s. 541
A friend in need is a friend indeed. 440
A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody. 5 40
After death the doctor. 71 ? 147 j 188 > 398
After night comes the dawn. 22 ) 199 » 413 » 429 i 437
After sorrow comes joy. 22 j 429
After spring-time neap ( Manx ) . 419
A full cabin is better than an empty castle. 162
A good beginning augurs well for an undertaking. 25 2
A good friend is worth more than a near kinsman. l4
A good name is better than riches. 221
A good neighbour» a good morrow. 433
A good riddance 560
A good wine needs no bush. 377
A great ship must have deep water. 422
Agues come on horseback » but go away on foot. 199
A guilty conscience feels continual fear. 47 6
A happy heart makes a blooming visage. 23 7
A hard gatherings a wide scattering. 154
A hungry belly has no ears. 8
A hungry n»an y an angry man. 8
A jar’s mouth may be stoppedj a man’s cannot. 196 > 199 » 489
A joint pot does not boil ( Ifish ) , 2 26
a la derob ee 555
A little bird told m.j so. 33 2 > 57 3
A little learning is a dangerous thing. 406
A little wind kindles > much puts out the fire. 3 » 135
A living dog is better than a dead lion. 440
All are not thieves that dogs hark at. 42 5
all at once 706 » 708
All covet 1 all lose. 293 » 528
All is for the best. 37 » 415
All is not gold that glitters. 393) 404> 416) 4l8> 428) 434
All is well that ends well. 273
All men row galley way » /, e, every one draweth toward
himself. 123
All men think all men are mortal but themselves. 653
all-round person 701
All sound and no sense. 6 5
All strive to give to the rich man. 9 7 > 45 7
All that glitters is not gold »
Often have you heard that told. 42 8
All the months of the year curse a fair Februeer. 429
All truths will not bear telling. 404 ) 418
Alms are the golden key that opens the gate of heaven. 289
A lofty rank requires nobleness of soul. 30
A lover dreams of his mistress. 27 5
A low hedge is easily leaped over. 22 7
A man is known by the company he keeps. 12 > 17 1 , 33 4
A man is only as rich as he iSf^ ontented. 172
A man’s greatness is measured by the number of his ene -
mies. 67 ) 87
A man’s praise in his own mouth stinks.-500
A man’s wealth is his enemy. 209 ) 2 1 2
amenable to reason 739
A middle course is best. 187
An ape is an ape > a varlet’s a varlct )
Though he be clad in silk and scarlet. 173
An artist lives everywhere. 436
An ass in an ass > though laden with gold. 9 7
An empty {or a hungry) belly bears nobody. 8
An empty gun and ** Hands up ! ” 3 7 7.
A new broom sweeps clean. 3 36 ? 399 ) 412
a new lease of life 587
anger a wasp 72 4
angle with a silver hook 496
An honourable death is better than an inglorious life
{Socrates). 371
An injury forgiven is better than an injury revenged
(Danish). 197
A nod for the wise * a rod for the fool. 38
An old fox needs learn no craft. 3Sl
An old fox ( who) understands a trap. 346
an old rogue 492
An opium •* smoker will always find opium. 63
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 301
answer one in his own language 508
A pebble and a diamond are all alike to a blind man. 63
A penny won’t make me or break me. 26
A pitcher that goes oft to the well is broken at last. 212
apply oneself to 726
apply to 736
Apres mot le deluge. 381
Ap ril and may are the keys of the year. 5 56
A ready way 1o lose your friend is to lend him money. 39
A rolling stone gathers no moss. 98 > 261
arrant ass 621
arrive at a conclusion 728
As a man sows > so shall he reap. 198 » 2l5 i 329
as easy as A B C 6 44
as easy as shelling peas 6 46
as easy aS winking 644 > 646
A scalded cat fears cold water. 36 2
a shadow of doubt 57 0
ask after a person 712
as like as two peas_( in a pod ) 50 7 ) 64 5
as merry as a beggar 488
A sound mind in a sound body. 23 2
A sow to a"^fiddle ! 21 > 322
A sparrow in hand is worth a pheasant that flieth by. 2 57, 351
As proud \s^ the peacock 2 4
assume a pose 725
assume"]reBponsibility 745
eure^as a gun 6 79
As the bird is i such is the nest, 490
As the old cock crows » so does the young one. 332
as thin as gossamer 645
As thou sowest > so shall thou reap. l4
A stitch in time saves nine. 129 5 2 56
As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb. 4 > 5
151 , 351 > 362
as well known as the village ** pump 339
As you make your bed j so you must lie on it. 183
As you sow » so must you reap. 2S4i 328> 4l7» 420* 451
at a loose end 492 ? 69 5
at a loss to understand 5 59 7 561
at a venture 701
at close grips ( or quarters ) 531
at daggers drawn 646
at full drive 57 5
At the end of the game you’ll see who’s the winner. 2 74
A thousand wishes will never fill your pail with fishes
23 > 468 > 609
At length the fox is brought to the furrier. 6 29
at loggerheads 511
at most 742
at pains 551 (to be at pains)
at random 701
a Triton among the minnows 128
attach importance to 719
attempt on some one’s life 662 i 741
at the end of one’s tether 139 > 615 > 697
at the point of death 657
at the worst 742
audacity to beg 739
avail oneself of 662
Avoid the appearance of evil. 231
awake to life immortal 53 5
a widow’s mite 24 j 65 > 91
A willing horse is run to death. 168 , 5 59
A wise man avoids edged tools. 7
A wise man will make tools of what comes to hand. 396
( 6 )
k wolf in (he lamb^g skin 346
a wolf in sheep^s clothing 52 S > 62 3
A wool-seller knows a wool-buyer. 33 5
A word before is worth two after. 129
A word is enough to the wise. 29 7
A word spoken is an arrow let fly. 122 > 254
A word to the wise. 194 » 297
B
back out 502 ) 506 ) 612
Bad ware is never cheap. 20 ) 43 7
balance accounts with some one 7 42
bald as a coot 646
bare subsistence 558
Barking dogs don4 bite. 20
bar - lounger 596
Barmecide feast 12) I84i 45 5 i 604
Bashfulness is the enemy to poverty. 449
be above oneself 52 5
be a cipher among numbers *50 7
be all abroad 47 2
be all ears 558
be a prodigy of 648
bear-garden 5l8
bear one a grudge 633
bear some one’s airs 638
be a scapegoat 514
beat about the bush 612
beat about the bush while others catch the birds 506 >612
be at loggerheads with some one 511
beat one to frighten another 5 7 , 191
be at pains 551
beat the air 666
be at the stake 66 5
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 24
Beauty opens all doors. 2 40
Beauty unadorned is adorned the most. 149
be baffled in one’s plan 7 24
be brought to bay 5 50 ) 72 3
be carried^off by illusion 735
be choked with tears 723
bed of roses 710
be driven to extremities 7 23
Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in the
tails ( Scottish ) . 398
be fed up 519
be filled with indignation 642
before one can say? “ Jack Robinson ’* 491
be frightened to death 5 ) 54
be funny with some one 5 59
Beggars mounted run their horses to death. 440
Beggars should be no choosers. 378 {This should better
read “ Beggars must not {or cannot ) be choosers) .
Begin your web j and God will send you the thread. 22
beholden to a favour 66 8
be in debt 722
be in some one’s black list 66 3
be in the mood 516? 5l8» 7 33
Be just to all > but trust not all. 6 1
bel ieve one’s senses 70 2
bell the cat 251
be moved with compassion 537
bend one’s heart on 53 5
be noised abroad 7 11
be off the track 47 2
be out of one’s senses 518
be put out of patience 7 23
best wishes for ... 641
be taken aback 689
betray oneself 527
Be true and fear not. 15 » 293
Better a lock than doubt, 364
Better an ounce of discretion than a pound of valour. 1 29
Better be alone than in bad company, 439
Better belly burst than good drink or meat lost. 69
Better dwell with a dragon than with a wicked woman. 2 50
( 8 )
»
Better face a danger once than be always in danger. o74
Better late than never. 224
better off 722
Better pay the butcher than the doctor* 47 9
Better sit idle than work for nought. 86
Better the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. 26 2
Better to have it out than be always aching. 214
Better to say here it is than here it was. 189
Between pillar and post there may be rescue. 21
Between two stools one falls to the ground. 55 > 85
be under the necessity 665
be upset 670
beyond one’s depth 599
bid farewell 691 > 729 j 7 34
Birds of a feather flock together. 177 > 33 5
bite a file 18
bits and pieces ( of food ) 7 00
bitter as gall 645
Bitter pills may have wholesome effects. 279
bitter sigh 711
black hole 700 > 703
bleed one white 47 2
blessing in disguise 7 29
bless ( or thank ) one’s stars 6 I 6
Bless you ! 584
blind drunk 6.55
blind to . . . 56 2 > 682
Blood will tell. 5 2
blow one’s nose 738
blue diamond 2 84
Boil not the pap before the child is born. 5 23
bone of contention 210
bosom friend 705
both a duty and a pleasure 432
bowl over 526
bread and point 269
break a lance 7 26
break bread with some one 67 8
break fly ©n wheel 95 > 666
( 9 )
break off relations 7 46
Break oneV fast 547
Break one’s promise 734
Break out 530
break the neck of a task 61 8 j 740
Break up 668 » 737
Break wind 7 30
Breathe^one’s last 511
Breathing-gap 593, 693
Briefly stating 717
Bring about 746
Bring a charge against some one 730
Bring a disgrace on oneself 7l6
Bring an action against some one 7l6
good luck 711
Bring home to 516
Bring round 516
Bring to Bay 538
Bring to Book 671
Bring to nought 6 83
Bring to ruin\733
Bring up 720 , 721
Brisk up 739
Build castles in the air 187 , 268
Burn the candle at Both ends 6 26
Burn the midnight lamp {or oil ) 216
Bursting with health 56 5
Burst into a laughter 5 5 5
Burst into tears 6 45 , 7 23
Burst out laughing 55 5
hury one’s head ostrich - like in the sand 560
hury the hatchet 730
Busman’s holiday 210
Buy a pig in a poke 274
Buzz off 551
By chance 602
By dint of 723
fair means or foul 340
By hook or by crook 340 , 483
( 10 )
By others’ faults wise men correct their own. 558
by way of 667
C
call off 748
call on 650
call to account 517 ? 720
call to mind 704
call to witness 628 5 713 > 742
Can the leopard change his spots ? 240
cardboard cavalier 234 > 284 i 496 i 577
care of 729
carry coals to Newcastle 2 51
carry forward 670
carry out 730
carry pickaback 621
carry water in a sieve 2 > 102 > 179 5 367 > 462 » 463 > 481
Cast a bone in the devil’s teeth? and he will save you. 223
cast a glance 681
Cast thy bread upon the waters » for thou shalt find it
after many days. 503
catch (a) cold 552 > 741
catch a Tartar 49 > 53
catch one napping 511
Cats have nine lives. 3 43
Cattle do not die from crows’ cursing, 18 > 61
Caution is the parent of safety. 19? 168
cease to exist 749
chalk and cheese 10 i 26 8 » 617
Charity begins at home. 33 ? 45 ? 137
Cheating play never thrives. 5l » 110
Christmas comes but once a year. 41 8 ? 43 5
Claw me? and I’ll claw thee. 390
Cleaning a blot with blotted fingers makes a greater blot. 186
Cleanliness is next to godliness. 40
cleanse the Augean Stables 558
Clean water often comes out of a muck spout. 436
clever hit 643
Clever people often nnss their way 7 ? 8 » 98
(11 )
Climb not too high lest the fall be greater. 19
cock-and-bull story 464) 613
cog (the) dice 743
collect one’s wits 518
come about 746
come a cropper 6 89
come in contact with 722
come into existence 67 1
come to know 6Q4 » 7 11
come to pass 690 > 694
come into grips 617
come off one’s high horse 9 8
Come off your perch, 7 26
come round 516 » 491
come to an untimely ei d 69 1
come to a rupture 6l6 > 674 i 746
come to a standstill 644
come to blows 53 2
come to close quarters 53 2
come to one’s senses 703
come to nothing 696
come to terms 618
come to the pinch 747
Come what may. 697
Coming events cast their shadows before. 2 52
commit to writing 548
Company in distress makes sorrow less. 75 , 1 77 , 29 4
Company in misery makes it light. 7 5
Confound him i 652
Confusion broke out 642
connive at 5l2 ) 529
contradict oneself 5 17
Contraries do not meet, 336
cook some one’s goose 11 , 706
Correction gives understanding. 64 3
count sheep 1 9
count the cost 45 > 331
Covetousness is the mother of ruin and mischief. 5 82
crack a joke 654
( 12 )
creature comforts 73 3
Crooked by nature is never made straight by education.
400 » 677
cross out 734
cross (\of measure ) swords 534
criminal conversation 667
Grows are never the whiter for washing themselves. 248
Crows » though they wash j are never the whiter. 81
Crush the evil thing at birth. 31
cry craven 5 58 > 719
cry down 703
cry oneself to sleep 5 55
cry wine and sell vinegar 1 30
curb ’one’s anger 6 18
Curses come home to roost. 116
cut across 674
cut a joke 654
cut off a corner 674
cut oneself loose from one’s family 522
cut one’s teeth 7 38
cut short 52Q
cut to the heart 609
Cut your coat according to your cloth. 7 2 ? 420
D
dance as some one pipes 488
dance attendance on some one 540
dance before the music starts 680
dance for joy 548
dance to some one’s tune ( or pipe ) 4S8
dash one’s hopes 4"7 6
Daub yourself with honey i and you will have plenty
of flies. 426
dead drunk 65 5
Dead men tell no tales. 255
deal aboveboard 546
Death and the grave make no distinctions of persons. 346
Deeds not words. 2 20
Desperate diseases must have desperate cures. 123
( 13 )
Destroy the lion while he is but a whelp. 31 , 25 8
Diamond cut diamond. 267
die for one 652
Discretion is the better part of valour. J9
dispense with 669 > 718
dispose of 722
Divide and rule. 395
do an ill turn to 722
Do as the preacher says , not as he does. 42 ? 80 » 119,
349 > 371
do away with 5 54 > 747
do homage to 5 5 2
done in 547
Do not all you can i spend not all you have i believe not
all you hear i and tell not all you can 7 3
Do not cast pearls before swine. 169
Don’t be coaxed. 676
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. 130 , 29 8
Don t desert the highway for the short cut. 240
Don’t fear the worst until you see the worst. 248 > 396
Don’t play hard to get. 676
Don’t teach your grandmothers to suck eggs. 76 » l56i 35 1
Don’t wash your dirty linen in public. 2 55
do the devil’s work for nothing 48 9
double ignorance 7 32
Do what thou ought i let come what inay. 7 3
do without something 62 3
down in the mouth 633
Down with ... 652
draw blood out of a stone 20 j 25 , 26 , 467 , 4 70
draw in one’s horns 560 > 6l9> 6 3 3, 639
Draw it mild. 98 , 557
draw one out 5l6 > 555
draw one’s attention to. , . 662
draw tears from one’s eyes 609
draw the long bow 510
draw to an end 504 i 720
i C
s&Variants for
preacher ”
are “ friar “ and ” priest
( 14 )
draw Water with a sieve 2
dress up to the nines 699
Drink good health ! 687
Drink - hail ! 687
dripping wet 616
drive mad 614
drop away 691
Drop by drop fills (he tub. 229
Drop by drop (he lake is drained. 2 29
drop dead ?59
drop off 691
dry as a s(ick 64 6
dry as dust 646
dumb language 7 39
E
Each bird loves to hear himself sing. 579
eager for (he fray 56 2
Early birds pick up the ciumbs. 2.S3
Early to bed and early to rise ? makes a man healthy j
wealthy i and wise. 253
case nature 33l
Easy come t easy go. 41 5
eat one^s heart out 32 5 ? 5 36
eat salt with a person 67 8
edge ( or egg ) on 5()4
Eggs are dearer in the country. 5 1
Eleven grooms for a one-eyed horse ! 449
Empty vessels make the most noise. 287
enjoy a green old age 5 53
enter into a treaty 660
equal to the task 65 1 ) 653
escape one’s memory 704
Even reckonings make lasting friends. 154
Every ass loves to hear himself bray. 290 » 420
Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king’s
horses. 29 ? 187
Every bean has its black. 421
Every cloud has a silver lining. 68 > 90 i 199
( 15 )
Every cock crows on his own dunghill. 199
Every cock is a lord on his own dunghill. 263 ? 381 > 4I9
Every cook praises his own broth. 330
Every couple is not a pair. 46
Every day brings its bread with it. 546
Every dog has his day. 421
Every dog is a lion at home. 263 , 265 > 381
Every door may be shut but death’s door. 653
Every fox must pay his own skin at the flayer’s. 354
Every heart has its own ache. 420
Every herring must hang by its own gill. 412 > 429 » 488
Every light has its shadow? every hill its valley. 418
Every man does his business best. 388
Every man draws the water to his own mill. 42 3
Every man has his lot. 419
^very man is the architect .of his own fortune. 486
Every man to his taste. 266
Every man to his trade. 2l> 322? 332? 472
Every n an wishes the water to his ain mill. 42 3
every now and then (>9 7
Every one for himself , and the Devil take the hindmost. 42 3
Every one knows best where his shoe pinches. 330
Every rogue is at length outrogued. 203, 343
Every sore has its salve. 418
Every sprat nowadays calls itself a herring. 139
Everything comes to him who waits. 38 , 345
Every tide has its ebb. 413, 4 29
Evil communications corrupt good nianners. 348
exceed the speed-limit 741
Exchange is no robbery. 4l7
excite a sedition 745
F
fair and square 517 , 5 42
bair and square keep friends together. 154
Eair exchange no robbery. 14
Fair faces need no paint. 149 , 3 78
Fair is not fair , but that which pleaseth. 4l9
Fair-weather friend 545
( 16 )
Fair words butter no parsiiips. 23 « 46 i 46 8
fall at one’s feet 719
fall a victim to 746
fall foul ()3l
fall into abeyance 656
fall into arrears 662
fall into error 634
fall on one’s knees 5 50
fall short 6l9
fall to the lot of 68 1
fall out of the frying-pan into tl\e fire 21 y 23 j 26
false step 634
Far from it. 752
Fast bind » fast find. 61 > 194
Fate overtook him. 712
Faults are thick when love is thin. 348
Feather by feather the goose is plucked. 2 29
feather one’s nest 5 I y 72 5
feel a person’s pulse 67 8
Few words are best. 187
Figs do not grow on thistles. .S3> 124 > 195 j 235 ?
247 , 252 . 482
fill with fury 6l4
fill with wonder 642
find fault with 719 j 7 34
find the length of one’s shoes 214 > 514
fire up 7 1 0
firm footing 505
Tirst^catch your hare > then cook him. 37 3
First come > first served. 10 > 37 » 6 86
Fish and guests stink in three days. 384
fish for information 707
fish in troubled waters 201
fix one’s attention on 535
fix the eye 'on { or upon ) 5 12)685
fizzle out 526
flat denial 723
flatter oneself 7 37
Flies go to lean horses. 56 7 y 69 7
( 17 )
fling one’s limbs about 737
fling up one’s cap 6l6
flog a dead horse 3 j 18 » 102 » 163
flounce up and down 7 37
Fools have the best luck. 178 j 21 1
Fools laugh at their own sport. 183
Fools tie knots and wise men loose them. 451
Forbidden fruit is sweet. 37 » 380
forced tears 626
Foxes » when they can’t reach the grapes » say they are not
ripe ( Of they are sour ) . 72 » 99 , 34 3
freeze one’s blood 5 54
fret and fume 516
Friends agree but at a distance, 217
Friendship stops where borrowing begins. 39
Friends may meet > but mountains never greet. 62 1
From a bad'"paymaster get what you can. 23 , 456
from time immemorial 588
Full bellies make empty skulls. 122
Full paunches make empty pates. 122
G
gain time 531
gall and wormwood 5 52
get a firm footing 505
get ahead of 7 3 1
get along 623 , 722 j 72 3
get along well ^together 548
get along with 738
get a thing off one’s chest 5 36
get away 62 8 , 620
get hold of the wrong end of a stick 2 59 ? 269
get into a groove 5 48
get into contact with 728
Get off ! r,09
get off the track 407
get off with 540 , 62 5
get over 62 8
49
( 18 )
get cut 6281 629
get rid of 6 1 6
get round a peison 5 1 4
get lound the law ^ 3 1 T 616
get stuck 631
get sweet on 623
get the hang of 6 36
get the knack of 6 36
get the length of one’s shoes 23e , 545
get the ])ush 7 30
get the start of 557 > 72 6 j 7H
get the upper hand of 73 I
Get thy spindle and thy Staff ready > and God will send
thee f lax. 22
gild the 1 ily 12
Ginmiinghain > Trimniingham > Knapton 1 and Trunch »
North Repps ? and South Repps » are all of a bunch. 401
gird up one’s loins 618
give a bird to 703
Give a clown your finger > and he’ll take your whole hand. 7 8
Give a dog had name and hang it 345
give a follow-up to 727
give a good dressing ( to ) 6 39
give a knee to 7 2 5
give a leg up (to ) 555
give a rebuff ( to ) 7 2 » 6 87
g VC a relief ( to ) 7 37
give a st..rt ( to ) 6 2 0
give cffret ( to ) 7 '7
give good shape (to) 6 51 » 669
give heed ( to ) 649 » 6 94
G.ve him an inch 1 and he’ll lake an ell . 73 » 78 > 137 »
239 > 327 , 341
give in 6 36
give it one liot 46 9, 4 97 , 5l6i 5 58
given to . . . 6)1
give one airs 6^7
give one knock on the iron and two on the anvil 708
give oneself airs 50 > 48 1 > 715
( 19 )
give thanks} (to) 742
give the devil his due 304
give the vertigo (to) 630
give up 340 » 69 5
give up oneself to debauchery 6 98
give up the ghost 7 30
give vent , to one’s anger 53 5
give way 505
give with one hand and take back with the other 2 46
gloss over 545
gnaw the file 18
goat’s wool 2 84
go away^with one’s tail between one’s legs 7 38
go back OR a bargain 502 > 5 27
go back on one’s word 471 » 68 5 , 69 0
go between bark and tree 5 3o
go beyond’due bounds 554
go by 726
God forbid 682 j 732) 739
God helps the sailor > but he must row. 22
God helps those who help themselves. 22
God never closed one gap that He did not open an -
other, 166 201
God never sends a mouth > but He sends meat for it. 412
God sends cold after clothes. ^45
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. 166 » 34 5
going on for the age of . . . 72 5
go it blind 729
Gone is the goose that the golden egg did lay. 17 , 46 5
Good advice beyond all price. 9 5
Good and quickly seldom meet. 394
Good cheap is dear at the long run. 20
Good clothes open all doors. 10
Good for you ! 52 5
Good luck to you. 52 1
good mixer 5 20
Good swimmers are oftenest drowned. 7 » 98
go off 5 24
go off the hooks 102
go out like the snuff of a candle 691
( 20 )
go pleasuring 6 22
go scot - free 506 i d65
go the^wrong way 73 4
go through the mill 7 1 3
Go to another door ? for this will not be opened
go to^bye - bye 6 32
go to extremities 716
go to kingdom come 487
go too far 748
go to one’s last home 5 35
go to smithereens 52 7
go to the bar 094
go to waste 698
go with 7 3 I
go with the stream ( ot tide ) 678 } 700
go without supper 5 59
grant audience (to) 720
grant some one’s request 660 ? 7 32
grease some one’s palm 174 ? 252 j 538* 541
Great boast little toast. 9 3 j 280
Great promise > small performance. 567
grind down 526
grind some one’s face 5 26
grow a beard 549
H
Habit is second nature. 186 j 2 40
Half a loaf is better than nothing. 33 I
Half an,egg is better than an empty shell. 321
half jest a:id whole earnest 742
half - seas over 6l7
hand and glove ( or hand in glove ) 646
hand over 727
Handsome is that handsome does. 4 24
hang about ( of around ) 72 6
hang down the head 72 5
hang fire 627
hang loose 6 95
hang on some one 719 > 721
(21 )
hang on $ofne one’s lips 3 12
hard knot 62 5
hard to deal with 6T5
hard to please 67 6
hard up for money 534 > 618
Hard words break no bones. 74
harp on one ( or the same ) string 88
Harvest ears j thick of hearing. 4 83
Haste makes waste. 7 9 > 296
have a crow to pull ( or pluck ) with 522
have a finger in every pie 6 39 j 6 79
have a good time 735
have a job to do it 495
have a narrow escape 506 ? 66 3
ha,ve an eye on something 62 1
have a rough time 72 2
have a sand ( or pebble ) in one’s shoe 24 1
have a thing a great bargain 68 ? 72 3
have a try at 553
have in stock 671
ft
have it both ways 540
have nothing to do with . . . 7 36
have patience with 5 18
have recourse to . . . 644
have regard for ... 666
have the heart to . . 7 37
have the last word 517
have the upper hand 5 32
have views upon. . . 5l2 » 538
have words 516
head and should er 707
heal up 7 1 6
Hear ! Hear ! 743 , 627
Heart speaks to heart. 30 i 210
heave a sigh 711
He cannot contain himself , for joy. 469
He can’t say “bo ” to a goose. 62 3 ,
He cried with one eye and laughed .with the other. 449
Hedges between keep friendship green. 2 17
( 22 )
He drew in his horns. 481
He farts frankincense. 2 7S
He has an axe to grind. 26 5
He ( has ) brought up a bird to pick out his own
eyes . 114 > 458
He has had his fling. 9
He has lived too near a wood to be frightened by
owls. 20, 277
He has not a penny to bless himself with. 18
He has one foot in the grave. 11 » 81 , 90 , 448
He hath eaten the hen’s rump. 7 47
He holds a looking-glass to a mole. 18
He hurts the ^ood who spares the bad. 114, 238 , 299, $9 5
t
He is a money-bags, 9 7
He is a pretty fellow to make an axle-tree for an oven. 6$
He is a skin-flint. 4 89
He is as proud as the peacock. 24
He is a Triton among the minnows, 12 8 , 172 , 194
He is at the end of his tether. 139
He is close-fisted, 443
He is eager for the fray, 117
He is a like a cat J fling him which way you will , and he
will light on his legs. 3)3
He is much reduced. 727
He is not fit to ( of can’t ) hold a candle to. . . 4$
He is not fit to tie his shoes - laces. 357
He is not poor that has not much, but he that craves much 9
He is out in his reckoning. 469
He is not right in the upper storey. 718
He is not the man for it. 6-51
He is rolling in money, 97
He is wide of the subject. 472
He is wrong in the upper storey. 45 , 471
He jests at scars who never felt a wound. 42 , 50 , 196
He knows one point more than the Devil. 2 84
He laughs best who laughs last. 2 73
He lies as fast as a dog { Of horse ) can trot. 451
He 11 come again as Goodyer’s pigs did. l2 7
( 23 )
Hell with you ! 509
He plays the dog in the manger. 401
He plays well who ( or that ) wins. 108 ) 292 i 3B3
He refuses the bribe > but puts forth his hand. 22
He robs his belly to cover his back. 93* 120 » 280
He runs with the hare and hunts with the liounds. 430
He seems to tread on air. 469
He skins a flint. 461
He smells of mother’s milk. 2 23
He strains at a gnat and swallows a camel. 341
He tells me my way) but does not know his own. 33) 3 36
He that asketh a courtesy promiseth a kindness. 3 24
He that commits a fault thinks every one speaks of if. 4 76
He that does not speak the truth to me does not believe
me when I speak the truth. 101
He that doth lend doth lose his friend, 39
He that fights and runs away )
Will live to fight another day, 114
He that goes softly goes safely. 456
He that handles pilch will be defiled. 22 6
He that hunts two hares (at once) will catch neither. 5 5 , 44 8
He that is carried down the torrent catcheth at anything. 3 3
He that is fallen cannot help him that is down. ]80
He that is poor ) all his kindred scorn him ; he that is
rich ail men are akin to him. 32
He that is won with a nut may be lost with an apple. 484
He that lies down with dogs must expect to rise with
fleas. 348 * 422
He that nothing questioneth nothing learneth. 5 7
He that seeketh findeth 509
He that sows thistles shall reap prickles. 6 28
He that sups with the Devil must have a long spoon. 441
He that takes the Devil into his boat n'ust carry him over
the sound. 441
He that travels far knows much, 4 88
He that will steal an egg will steal an ox. 113 ) 424
He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing, 42 4
He thinks his fart as sweet as musk. 27 5
He throws out a sprat to catch fl herring (<9f mackerel ) , 83
( 24 )
tie ivants the Lest of Loth worlds. 432
He was at the end of his tether. 613
He went for wool ) Lui came home shorn. 278
He went to Davy Jones’s locker. 1 2 7
He who has Leen Litten Ly a snake is afraid of an eel. 362
He who has but one hog makes him fat , and he who has
but one son makes him a fool. 436
He who plants a walnut tree expects hot to eat of
the fruit. 22 5
He who takes a partner takes a master. 22 6 , 2 78
He who would the daughter win i must with the mother
first begin. 175
He won’t give away the droppings of his nose. U 19, 3()0>44 3
highly strung 6 20
H is blood is up. 73 3
His bread is buttered on both sides. 391
His breeches made buttons. 5 03
His cockloft is unfurnished. 45 , 47 /
His countenance fell. 63 3
His days are numbered. 102
His fingers are lime - twigs. 205
His hat covers his family. 703
His hour was come. 7 1 3
His joke fell flat. 442 , 705
His life failed him. 693
His money burns in his pocket. 496
His mother’s milk is scarce out of his nose yet. 22 3
His tear - bag is precious near his eyes. 473
His tongue runs on wheels. 747
His voice sounds pleasant in his own ear. 290
His word is as good as his bond. 74 7
hitch horses together 6 2 2, 623
Hoist your sail when the wind is fair. 105 •
hold a conversation 6 30
hold in contempt 7 33
hold in reverence 3 i 7
hold in trust 71 7
I
hold the line ( or hold on ) 6 30
hold one’s breath -5 38
hold one’s jaw -5 29 > 537
hold one’s tongue .5 2 9
hold out 74 3
hold out to one’s opinion 70 7
hold out to the last 69 3
hold up 7 46
hold up the olive branch 6 36
Honesty is the best policy. 33 > 51 , 110* 437
Honey is sweet > but the bee stings. 1 7
hop the twig 691
How poor are they that have no patience ! {Shakespeare') ^4 *>
hug oneself 6l6
Human blood is all of a colour. 491
Hum afium est err are. 42
hunger for something 624
Hunger is the best sauce ? and fatigue the best pi] -
low. 264 » 3 3“
Hunger will tame a lion. 14 > 83
I
idle away one’s time 526 j 665
If a man cheats me once > shanie on him ; if he cheats me
twice > shame on me. 36
If my aunt had been a man ? she’d have been my
uncle . 5 2? 1 6 1
If the counsel be good ? no matter who gave it. 371
If the eyes do not admire ? the heart will not desire
[o1 It alt an orighi} . 2 44
If things were to be done twice ? all would be wise. 65 2
If thou seest aught amiss in another ? mend it in thyself. 3 58
If wishes were horses ? beggars might ride. 3 3
If you can kiss the mistress ? never kiss the maid. 203
If you heat spice ? it will smell sweeter. 3o3
If you pay not a servant his wages ? he will pay himself. 654
If you save a rogue from the gallows ? he will rob you
that flame night. 142 ? 262 ? 264
If youth only knew i if old age only could. 4l ? 105
If you trust before you try ? you will repent before
{ U )
you die. 61
If you would have a hen lay i you must bear with het
cackling. 423
I have not the heart to - . . 7 37
Ill got(ten) T ill spent. 96 » 151
Ill weeds grow apace. 164
in a bad fix 623 i 63 L
in acknowledgment of 736
in a delicate situation 546
in a dilemma 7 l()
in a ferment 5 36
in an awkward situation 6 31
in another’s right 6y4
in a oosition to 664 » 722
in a sorry plight 62 5
In at one ear and out at the other. 4 55
inch by inch 625
in case 641
in course of time 653
incur a loss 64J
in fashion 650
in favour of 637
infect one’s mind 658
inflict a blow on 7 -i 3
In for a penny » in for a pound. 4> 149» 34) 362
ingratiate oneself 735
in high feather 62 I
in labour 740
in process of time 03 >
inquire after one s health 712
ins and outs 59 i 504
in spite of the fact that 720 i 721
interchange of visits 7 38
in the bloom of youth 627
in the know 030
In the land of the blind the one • eyed are kings
( Scottish ) , 128 ) 172 , 194 » 197
In the long run truth will out. 155 , 367
in the prime of life 627
( 27 )
in the public view 666
in the rough 636
intrude on some one’s privacy 6 5S
intrude upon 649
in view of ( the fact that ) ()61
I paid dear(ly) /or it. 623
In the twinkling of an eye 491
I taught you to switn i and now you’d drown me. 330
It brings grist to the mill. 67 7
It came to the pinch. 747
It cannot be helped. 7 32
itch for trouble 117
It comes back like a bad penny. 261
It cost me dear(ly) . 62 3
It doesn’t matter . 7 32
It is a lightening before death. 163 * 281
It is a long lane that has no turning. 46 > 93 > 199 ,
200 , 377 , 437
It is an endless task. 4 7
It is an unhappy lot which finds no enemies. 6 7
It is below his dignity to... 612 » 742
It is below his position to . . . 73 8
It is better to be lucky than wise. 32 » 167 i 33 7
It is beyond ( or out of ) my depth. 72 2
It is cheaper to feed one’s belly than one’s eyes. 237
It is easier to fill a glutton’s belly than his eye. 238
It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enen.y’s
hand. 258
It is like a cage j Ih,* birds without yearn to come in >
those within desire to escape. 32 8
It is nothing new. 72()
It is nothing short of . . . 72 5
It is not so hot. 11
It is not the cowl that makes the friar. 200
It is not the habit that makes the monk. 198 > 2 00
t is not wo^th while. 7 1 3
(It is ) no use striving against Fate. 136 » 166 > 19 8
It is no use teaching an old dog new tricks. 29 i 400
Jt is quite another story now. l4 » 342 i 46 5 > 466
( 28 )
It is second to none. 7 38
It is six of one and half a dozen of the other. 222 » 264
It is the raised stick that makes the dog obey. Ill
It is thou must honour the place > not the place thee. 278
It is too big for my fireplace. 722
It is useless to play a lute to a deaf man. 338
It is very hard to shave an egg. 26 ? 174
It looks as if . . , 645
It never rains but pours. 410) 484
It’s a dear collop that is cut out of one’s own flesh. 470
It’s a good knife i it will cut butter when ’ lis melted
( ’ twas made at Dull-edge ) . 639
It savours of . . . 7 24
It stares one in the face. 99
It threatens to rain. 7 35
I venture to say. 73 I
It will not make the sky fall. 269 *
J
Jack of all arts is of no trade. 435 i 448
Jack of all trades ) ( and ) master of none. 8 i 701
join in the laugh ^02
Joking apart. 576
jolly as a thrush 02 I
Joy surfeited turns to sorrow. 581
K
keep abreast of 7^6
keep aloof 619? 7 38
keep a stiff upper lip 5 24
keep cold 5 32
keep one’s hair on 532
keep one’s weather eye open 7 i8
keep on talking 703
keep silent 632
keep track of 7 36
keep waiting 608
keep within bounrls 7 IN
kick in the pants 657
( 29 )
kick the bucket 102
kick up a row 505 , 52 7 , 70 1 , 7 32
kick up one’s heels >07
kill two birds with one stone (or shot) ^5, 8'> , 140, 4 5 5
kill with a cushion 49
kith and kin 6l3
Knavery may serve a turn, but honesty is best in the end. 3 03
knife a person 5 54
knit one’s ( or the ) brow 506 , 62 5 , 711
knock at a door 7 36
knock on the head 683
knock out 677
Knowledge is power. 118
know the length of one’s foot 214
know the ropes 636
L
lag behind 636
lapsus calami 741
lapsus liugus^ 741
lash with fury 614
laugh in one’s face and cut lis throat 49
lavish of one’s money 637 , 694
lay at one’s door 62 4
lay a train 672
lay a wager 679
lay bare 5 48
lay down 664
lay hands on 53 2
lay it on thick ( or with a trowel ) 100 , 4 36
lay money 640
lay on the carpet 659
Lay things by , they may come to use. 4 1 5
^ead a dog’s life 5 I 2
lead off the track 90
lead one a dance 623
leak out 72 2
lean aB a rake 631 , 6SS
leap for joy 61 6
( so )
learn by heart 316
leave blank 74 I
leave for 7 44
leave in the lurch 50 3
leave no stone unturned 32 3 i 35 2
leave out 730
legal ground ( or authority ) 749
lend one’s ear 746
Let bygones be bygones. 14» 65 ? l53> 247 > 377 » 623
let go 69 5
let off 5 20
let off hot air 502
Let sleeping dogs lie. 89 > 27 8 f 294
let the cat out of the bag 92 » 548 , 7 40
Let the cobbler stick to his last. 321
Let the dead Past bury its dead. 3()2
Liars should have good menr.ories. 7 ) 199
liberty of action 67 5
lick one’s chops 606
lick some one’s feet 7 34
lie at one’s door 624
life and soul of a party 6S4
Life is a battle > net a feast. 215
lift the ban 545
lift the curfew 7-^4
Light come i light go. 415
lightening before death 163
like a leech ()46
like a shot 646
Like father 1 like son . 93 > 115) 283
Like likes like. 335
Like master ) like man . 408
likes and dislikes 7 32
like the judges of Galicia ) who for half a dozen chickens
will dispense with a dozen penal statutes {Spannish)^ 43 5
like water on a duck’s back
1
line up 6 vSl
Little birds pick at the dead lion. 362
Little pitchers have long ears. 22 7
( 31 )
live from hand to mouth 33 I
Live >^horse > and thou shalt have grass 488
live out the night 742
load something on to . . . 720
load with flattery 100
loaf about ( Of around ) 663
lodge a complaint 7 1 6
Long absent j soon forgotten. 2 4
longing of pregnant women f>95
long usage 747
look after 65 1
look back 360
Look before you leap. 86 » 229 i 287 , 372
look blank 526 j 724
look blue 72 3
look daggers 3 1 1
look for an opportunity 66^ , 749
look out 666
lord it over 724-
lose hope 7 1 7
lose its point 7 49
lose one^s hair 5 32
lose one’s temper 47 1
lose patience 5 19
Love > a cough > and the itch cannot be hid. 299
Love is blind. 212 > 32 1
Love is mad. 32 1
Love me i love n.y dog. 355 , 420
Love on one side only means miseiy on both sides 146 » 369
lucky hand 6H3
lucky hit 6s
lucky thiow 683
lull to sleep 632
make a cat’s paw of 2 67
make a dead set at "^4 0
make a fool of 636
make a fuss 631 > 676
M
( 32 )
make a mess of 526 » 7 47
make an advance to 65 5
make an appointment 693
make an end of 616
make a nice distinction 6H4
make a noise 743
make a present of 72 8
make a pretext 7 24
make a profit (S83
make a tool of 711
make Both ends meet I4l » 69 9
make capital of 99
make difficulties 714
make do with something 72 7
make ducks and drakes of 710
make^excuses /24
make fritters of 63 3
make game of 5^1
Make few promises. 304
Make haste slowly. 2 24
Make hay while the sun shines. 105
make liead or tail of 560 , 564
make it up Between 636
make light of 5 57 , 676
make^love 744
make merry 735
make mince-meal of 63 5
make mischief 674 , 682
make money 72 6
make mountains of mole-hills l5l ? 35S3 » 6o9
make mouths at 46 5
make one dance without a pipe 7o6
make one feel sick 72 1
make one’s Blood run cold 5 >4 > 62 9
make oneself ridiculous 52 6
make oneself scarce 510
make one’s heart bleed f)()y
make one’s rounds 74 7
make one’s will 693
( 33 )
make over 7 1 8
make preparations 727 y 7 3o
make rings round 5 35
make shift 722
make short work of 6 i 6
make something do 72 7
make sport of 53 L
make sure 7o6
make tlie most of <562
make up one’s mind 65 9
make up with 73 5
make use of 714
man of straw 234 > 284
Man proposes > God disposes. 13j 37 j 38> 4!6
Many a little (or pickle ) makes a mickle. 41 , 2 29 » 3 17
Many a one kisses the child for love of the mistress 3 04
Many go out for wool j hut come home shorn. 278
Many kinsfolk » few friends. 43 7
Many words will not fill a hushel. 2 3
march of events 73 1
mark off 6.Si
mark time 5 2S
measure others’ ( or other people’s ) corn hy one’s own
hushel 32 2
measure some one with one’s eyes 4H4
Men are hest loved furthest off. 5 40
Men speak pf the fair as things went with them (here. 459
mere figurehead 6 1 6
mere skin and hones 5 14
mere wash (62
Might is right. 2 50 , 2 "> I
Mind your own business, rt 1 .5
mine of wealth 628
Misfortunes come on wings and depart on foot. I 99
Misfortunes tell us what fortune is . I 20 ? 3 I 3
Money begets money. 9 7
Money doesn’t grow on trees. 9 7 > 49 5
Money is a sword that can cut even the Gordian knot. 9 7» 42 5
Money makes the mare go. 84 » 2 45 > 345 > 42^
5 0
( 34 )
monkey business 508 » 611
More Catholic than the Pope. 190 i 32 4
More flies are taken with a drop of honey than with a
tun of vinegar. 489
More haste j less speed. 7 ? 38 j 296
more kicks than halfpence 6S8
more royalistic than the king 32 4
More than one word goes to the market. 93
More words than one go to the market. 93
mortify one’s pas^^ions 749
mount the high horse 55^
move on 6^9
move to fears 626
Much boast i little toast. 48
Much bruit > little fruit. 455
Much coin? much care. 10) 1 88) 308) 3!(i) 422) 423> 425
428 ) 447 ) 525
Much cry and little wool. 6 5
Murder will out. 1 86
mute language 7 39
My cake is dough. 416
My goodness ! ^26
My gorge rises at it. 5 36
My liair stood on end. 67 1
My heart goes out to him. 5'■'6
N
Near is iiiy shirt ) but nearer niy skin. 355
Necessity is the mother of invention. 19
Neither extreme is good. 187
Neither fish > nor flesh i nor good red herring. 440 > 44l
Never leave certainty for hope. 2 57
Never put oft till to-moriow what you can do to-day. 32 1
Never seek a wife till ye ken what to do with her
( Sl ot t ish ) , 3 7 2
New things are f.iir. 49 9
Nob I esse ob 1 /re. 30
o
No deceit like the world’s. 3()9
N® fish - seller ( or no one ) cries stinking fish. 330 ) 438
( 35 )
noise abroad 64 5 > 7 |
Noise an emptiness betrays » fulness gives no hollow sound. 8
No joy without alloy. 231 , 398 , 48S
nolens volens 58 2
No one cries stinking fish. 43 8
No one knows the weight of another's burden. 330 » 420
No one knows what the future will bring forth. 253 , 3o8
No pains, no gains. 62 , 82 , 107 , 331 , J7 5 , 389 ,
398 , 425 , 427
No rose without a thorn. 160 , 352 i 485
“No smoking allowed. ” 741 , 746
Nothing but skin and bones. 96
Nothing comes out of a sack but what was in it. 26 . 416
Nothing doing. 5i5 , 52U, 623
Nothing is easy to the unwilling. 202
Nothing is hard to the willing mind. 202
Nothing like leather. 338
Nothing is so easy as revenge i nothing so grand as
forgiveness. 19 7
Nothing venture nothing have. 106 , 307 » 4 22
“ No thoroughfare " 74 4
not (to) care a fig 61 5
• not (to) contain oneself for joy 5 28, ">-18
not (to) have a leg to stand on 88
not (to) know a B from h bull's foot 178 1 3 39
not to the point 519
nourish a hope 7 1 0
No use crying over spilt milk. 2 39
No use striving against Fate. ,5 3 » 166 , 198 , 2 58 . 31^ ,
329 , 379 , 392
O
odds and ends 52 2 » 70l
offer an apology 7 26
offer one's condolences to 727
off one's balance 671
off the reel 5 58 , 62!)
of the same leaven 2 5
oil the tongue 6 5 0
( 36 )
Old age is sickness enough of itself. 49 7
old fogey 520
Old foxes want no tutors. 351
Old friends and old wine are best. 440
Old mares lust after new cruppers. 168
Old men and travellers may lie by authority. 131
old rogue 492 t 5 84
on account of 68 1 j 7 2 1
on and on 70 ^ ‘ '
m
Once a friend » always a friend. 483
Once bit ) twice shy. 362
Once upon a time 708> 709
on credit 680
on d iet 7 2 ^
one at a time 709
one by one 709
One cannot eat his cake and have it. 4“32
One can’t get blood out of a stone, 2 39
One can’t make war with rose-water. 121? 193? 38 5
One crow will not peck out another crow’s eyes. 2 64
One does not look <1 gift hot sc into the mouth. 28 > 3 78
One does not wash away blood with blood. 186
One enemy is too much for a man in great post. 451
One good turn deserves another. 203 1 291 > 324? 418
One is never rich until he commences •>
To keep ahead of his expenses. 62 ? 141
One man’s meat is another man’s poison. 14? 374 ? 4 59
One must die when one’s time comes. 290
One nail drives another. 270? 305
- • f ^ m
One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. 393 ? 448
on e’s all 699
One scabbed sheep can mar the whole flock. 393 ? 448
One Swallow does not make summer. 2 8
One thing thinhoili the hear ? but another thinketh his
leader . 48 8
One touch of nature n:akes the whole world kin. 39? 210
One word leads to another. 152
on one’s track
on the alert 62 9 , 748
( 37 )
On the occasion of 7 24
on the run 341;
on the watch 62P
on tick 6H0
open one’s heart to some one 3 29
out-herod Herod 474 i 610
out of fashion 630
out of ps^tfence 3 36
Out of sight* out of mind. 24
out of this world 640
outrogue a rogue 474
outrun the constable 62 6
P
pack away { Of off ) 5-^3
pad it 632 , 732
pad the hoof 732
pale as ashes 646
pass away 3 29 * 651
pass in review 3 56
pass off 722 , 7^0
pass off ( Of end ) in smoke 3 39
past master 612
Patience and perseveiance won a wife for His Reverence. 345
Patience opens all doors. 3R i 2 86 > 345
pat on one’s back 676
pave the way for 3 33
pay attention to (»4 8 * 09 4 » 7 13
pay a visit to 7 38
pay dear(ly) for 623
pay heed to 713
pay no attention to 724
pay off old scores 3 22
pay one in his own coin 660
pay pne out well 469
Pay the piper and c.'ill the tune. 7 > 415
pay through one's nose 74 8
peel off 69 1
peg out 3.54
( 38 )
Penelope’s winding - sheet 47 » 89
Penny and penny laid up will make many. 41 » 317
penny - wise and pound - foolish 2 8
pension off 64 5
perform a Herculean task 164 » 5 5s , 618
perform a miracle ()6l
peter out
Physiciani heal thyself. 31) 70) 120) 137) 203) 332) 474
pick of the basket ( the ) 3 50
pick up ( a woman ) 72 3
play a lyre (in vain) to an ass 7^) 14^) 3^7, 3^9, 441
play a ( nasty ) trick -5i8) 547) 616) 676 ) 688 > 7 3 3) 742
play false 5 45 , 67 6 ) 677
play gooseberiy 38 3
play hard to get 6^6
play off 5^1 ) 535
play the buffoon 65 6
play the truant 6 26
play with edged tools 37 6
plead for justice 7 35
pledge one’s honour 54 9
plough the sea-shore 5 > 48 1 > 48 3
Pluck a hair of th e Same wolf, 189
pluck courage 53 5
plug a way 506
point at issue 67 2
point of view 684
point t ut 642
poison one’s mind 658
poke one’s nose into another man’s affair 8 8
Poor and proud ? Fy t fy ! 8 » 326
Possession is nine points of the law. 2 04
potatoes and point 2 69
pour oil on the flames 46 3
Poverty on an old man’s back is a heavy burden. 57 ) 37 7
Practice makes perfect. 3 3
Practise what you preach. 1)9
Praise a fair day at night. 2 73
Precious gOotls are contained in small parcels. 334 > 472
( 39 )
ptess for 744
press hard upon 5 38
prevail on 73 3
prevail over 74 5
Pride and poverty are ill iret » yet often together. 8 , 326
Pride breakfasted with plenty » dined with poverty » and
supped with infamy. 116
Pride goes before a fall. 116
Pride goeth before destruction. 116
pride in 74 5
pride oneself on 7 15
process of time 65 3
produce a witness 74 2
profess a ( specified ) religion 74 9
profit by 741
pronounce a judgment 74 5
public levee 741
puff with pride 4 9
pull a face 61 2
pull a long face 633
pull a wry face 46 5
pull the legs of 531 ? 510
pull the wires 62 3
pump out 529
put a rope to the eye of a needle 368
put a spoke in some one’s wheel 43 > 67 2
Put by something for a rainy day. 136
put in abeyance 656
put in circulation 739
put in order 65] , 68 2 > 718
put in shape 7 3o
put into practice 662
Put not a naked sword in a madman’s hand. l23
put off 662
put on 724 ) 729
put on airs 676 » 725
put one’s finger in another’s soie 7
put one’s shoulder to the wheel 5(>l
put on the shelf 727
( 40 )
put on weight ( or flesh ) 516 » 629
put out 676
put out of the way 5o9 5 563
put out to contract 664
put the cart before the horse 31 j 2 59
put through 711
put to flight 746
put to shame 5 47 > 6 70 i 742
put to the touch 648
put to the vote 543
put up 556
put up with 723
Q
quake at work and sweat at meals 129 » 409 » 508
queer some one*s pitch 6 27 ? 7 19
quench one’s thirst 545
queue up 579
R
rainy day 641
raise a laugh 73 5
raise an uproar 701
raise hell 696
raise money 7 20
rara civis 553
raw head and bloody bones 707 » 741
raze to the ground 481
reawaken one’s grief 531
rebuff a favour 544
receive a snub 56 0
record of service 7 40
reduced to a skelelone 564
reduced to confession ( to be ) 664
reduce to poverty 6 47
reduce to slavery 518
reduce to straits 53 8
reduce to writing 548
refresli oneself 7 47
( 4l )
reigning beauty 667
relieve one’s feelings 536
relinquish one’s life 53 2
render an account 7 33
Rent a house and have no responsihilify 32 7
report to 661
resign one’s breath 5 23 ^ 6 83
restore order in 6 82
restrain oneself 7 47
rev up 540
ride as if one goes to fetch a midwife r,r>9
ride double 738
ride the high horse .7 5 7
rob Peter to pay Paul 25 , 333 , 6 15 , 6l6
roll in money 9 7
rough Up the wrong way 5 48
rousing lie 5 30
rub in 73 5
run about 541
run against the point of a spear 376
run a race 7 45
run away 736
run dry 734
run for 551
running fight 508
run on a groove 5 48
run over 5 55
run short 504 j 612, 617
run to waste 69 8
run up , as a wall 7 2 1
run Up against 67 1
run up an account 5 I 7
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
-278 , 458, 539
Sadness and gladne.ss succeed each other, 3()h, 35J
Said the kettle to the pan, “Stand aside, black man
Save one’s face 50 2
( 42 )
Save one's hide ( Of skin ) 506
Save us » good Lord. 6C2
saving your reverence ^39
Saying and doing are two ( different ) things. 68 » 220
scale off 691 » 7 26
scrape through 726
scrap of paper 409
scratch along 7 26
seal one’s lips 67 3
second to none 7 38
Seeing is believing. 201
seek quarter 1 1
seek sanctuary 7 22
Seek till you find i and you’ll not lose your labour. 5 09
seek water in the sea 3 ? 499
see off 4()3 > 7 21
seize an opportunity 7 15
Self-praise is no recommendation Il5
sell like hot cakes 547
sell the bear’s skin before the bear has been caught.
18 . 61 » 373
send on a fool’s errand 103 j 53 1 53 5
send one for yard-wide pack-thread 103
Send round the hat 6 * 4
serve as an example '-41
serve one out 516 > 517 > 527 » 706
Set a beggar on horseback \ he’ll ride to the devil. 440
set about for a journey 7 44
set afoot 560
set an example 7 4 I
set aside 619
Set a thief to catch a thief. 154 > 278
set at nought 676
set at variance 539 > 67 4
set down in writing 548
set fire to ( or spt on fire ) 710
set forth 659
set forward 7 3 I
set free 69 5
( 4S )
set intrigues on fool 67 2
set laughing 7 34
Set not the fox to watch the geese. 26
set on 504
set on edge 5 •> 8 ? 6 19
set one’s seal to 67 3
set the fox to watch the geese. 213 » 3 54 » 609
set the goat to watch the cabbage 213
Set your sail according to your wind. 7 2
settle a person’s hash 5 53 , 706
shake hands 7 3 7
Shall the goslings teach the goose to swim ? 509
Shame on him ! 519
shank’s mare 46 7
shed floods of tears 6 44
She is a button short. 707
She is a light-skirts 89
She is a woman of easy virtue. 79 j 8 9
She’s loose in the hilts. 79 » 89
Shining gold for dark days 271
shirk a duty 736
Short accounts make long friends, l34
show a bold front 531 , 5.^7
show a clean pair of shoes 539
show deference to 742
show off 68 5 j 72 5
show one the door 6 1 5
show the white feather 5 5 4
show up new com age 531 > 7 25
shutting the stable door after the steed is stole
horse has fled ) 71 , 147 , 188 , 398
shut up 5 29
Sickness cometh on horsebr.ck » but goes away oi
SiWe iB gold. 254 . 388 , 475
Silence is wisdom » when speaking is folly. 3 88
Since he cannot be revenged on the ass , he fall
pack-saddle. ^9 » 25 1
Since the house is on fire , let us warm oui feet.
Sing small 509 » 560
( the
foot. 199
on the
206
( 44 )
sit for an examination 717
six of one and half a dozen of the other 43 ^
slip away { otf ) 510 .
slip of the pen 7 41
slip of the tongue 7 41
Slow and steady wins the race. 24 j 28 ,
Slow but sure. 1 7 j 28 » 240
slur over 639 ? 7 48
smack one’s lips 666
Small presents keep up friendship. 32 5
Small rain lays great dust. 493
smashed into smithereens 637
smooth the brow 506 >62 5
snake in the grass 6 39
snap at 500
snap one’s fingers at some one 6 7
Some would play a tune before you can tune your
fiddle. 106
so much the better 663 > 724 > 738
sooner or later 7 38
Soon ripe > soon rotten. 7 14
soothe the heart 7 39
sore as a boil 487
Sorrow treads upon tlie heels of mirth. 41 > 484
sow one’s wild oats 514
sow the wind and reap the whirlwind 482
Spare my blushes,
spare no effort 641
Spare one trouble 35 1
Spare the rod and Sj)oil the child. 140
speak highly of<j7 2U
Speak the truth and shame the Devil. 119 > 293 > 393
Speak when you are spoken to. 148 > 254
spend like water 6 45
Spit not against heaven > ‘ twill fall back in thy face. 116
split hairs 6 7 2
Split one’s sides 469 > 347
Sponge on some one 7 19 > 7 2 4
square accounts with some one 322 > 7 42
{ -45 )
Stand ]:>ail 6 1 5
stand in awe of 5 1 7
stand on end 67 1
start ( at ) scratch 640
start a big row 696 j 103
start on a journey 744
starve in a cook’s shop 66
stay up all night 7:42
Steal a march on 7 26
Step by step the ladder is climbed. 91 » 394
stick at nothing 548
stick in the mud 618
Still waters run deep. 3 1 1
stink(ing) of money 522 » 564
stir one’s pulses 525
stoop to a request 546
strain at a gnat and swallow a camel 2 i
strike a blow for son e one 267
strike root 549
Strike the iron while it is hot. 10 5
strike with horror 5 54
strike dumb 641
string up 6 21
struck all of a heap 645
struck dumb 6 38 j 7 02
Striving to better ? oft we mar what is well. 1 2
stuff { Of load ) with flattery 100
submit of solution 7 36
Subtility set a trap and caught itself. 8
Such as the tree is > such is the fruit. 2 6
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 142 , 3i)6
supply one’s needs 7 39
sustain a loss 554
Swear for me > and I’ll do as much for you. 390
Swell like a turkey-cock 481 y 525
swingeing lie 5 3o
swing the lead 470
( 46 )
T
take a breath of fresh air 7 01
take a decision 7 27
take a delight in 739
lake a fancy to "02
take a favourable turn 72 1
take after 544
Take a hair of the dog that bit you. 189
take a leap in the dark 260
take an examination 7 16
take a person’s heart within one’s hands 53S
take a plunge 210
take a walk 7 47
take care of 67 1
take eggs for money 17 7
take example 741
take exception tu 7 1 9
take for granted 54B i 6 56.
take from one’s right side to give to the left 2 5
take heed of 649 i 694
take into account 7 21
Take it easy. 5 58
take liberties 731
take model from 641 > 726
take notes 704
take notice of 644 ) 666
take off 543
take offence at 5 36 » 66 5
take off ( for a spring ) 6 20
take off one’s hat to 7 19
take on a one-way ride 5 59 i 563
take one’s farewell of 7 34
take one’s hand off 502
take out of one pocket to put in the other 468
take out oil to extinguish fire 39 7
take pains 549
take place 690
take pleasure in 6 34
( 47 )
take precedence of 5 57
take pride in 641
take refuge 644 > 666 > 726
take root 549 i 621
take Sanctuary 7 23
take the air "01
take the part of 723 * 730
take the reins of government 7 39
take the salute 741
take the sense of 7 14
take the side of 7 01
take the wind out of some one’s sail 5 32 » 7 26
take to 5 5 1
take to one’s heels 5 9 » 55 1 ) 732
take to tafk 67 1 > 720
take vengeance 622. 71B. 728. 737
Tale-heareis are conn.only a sort of h*. 1 f - witted men. 58
Talking pays no toll. 244 . 55 8
talk nonsense 5 56
Talk of the devil . and he will appear. 143
talk one’s head off 663
talk sense 73 3
tarred with the same bru^h 2 5
tears of joy 62 6
tell a lie to find the truth 7 07
Tell me news. 5 12
Tell me the company you keep , and I will tell you who
you are. 29 > 17 1
thank ( Of bless ) one’s stars 6l6
That is all past and done with. 14 » 342
That is the case of the wolf and the lamb. 2 94
That is no news to me. 7 26
That serves him right. 2 14
That which may fall out at any time may fall out
to - day. 202 . 3 i 4
That which one most anticipates soonest comes to pass. 46 5
That which the palmer - \^orm hath leit hath the locust
eaten . 6 9 7
( 48 )
The ape claspeth her young so long that at last she kill-
eth them. 2 19
The axe goes to the wood where it Lorrowed its helve. 471
The baby is the king of the house. 15S
The best mirror is an old friend {SpautJtsh), 217
The best part is yet to come. 47 8
The blind cannot lead the blind, 180
The camel going vo seek horns lost his ears (Hebrew) . 376
The cat dreams of mice. 8 j llS i 2 75 » 343
The cat is fain the fish to eat ? but hath no will to wet
her feet. 387
The cat shuts its eyes while it steals cream. .3 26
The cat was let out of the bag. 60
The contented man is the lich man, 17 2 j 3 18
The cracked pitcher goes uftenest to the well. 50
The darkest hour is just before the dawn. 6 8 j 199
The deeper in debt > the more reckless, 3l6 > 334
The d evil grew sick and a ii onk he would be. 3 1 3
The devil is not half so black as he is painted. 3l8
The Devil was ill i the Devil a saint would he j
The Devil was wtH > the Devil a saint was he. 237
The dog b ays the moon. 3B4
The dog that means to bite i oes not hark. 20
The early bird catches the worms. 25 3
The end crowns all. 322
The envious man shall never want woe, 3 17
I he father has a fine wine-cellar » hut the son is allowed
only water. 91
The fathers have eaten sour grapes , and the children’s
teeth are set on edge. 2 9.5
The field s have eyes and the hedges cars. 22 7
The tool is wise where there is scarcity ot wisdom. 172) 18l
The fox is cunning j but he is more cunning that catches
him ( Spaufiisb ) . 203
The fox is taken when he conies to take. ^7 8
The fox knows much » but n ore he that catches him. 530
The lox was eick ) and he knew not where i
He clapped his hand on his tail and swore it wts there, 66
( 49 )
The future (or matter) is on the knees of the gods. I 12> 49 8
The'gallows .groans for you. 256 > 333 j 467
The game is not worth the candle. 11 j 173 > 443
the gentle ( or fair ) sex 507
The glue did not take. 7 05
the golden mean 41 > 187
The goose goes with geese. 33 5
The greatest wealth is contentment with a little. 3 18
The heart’s letter is read in the eyes. 237
The higher the fool » the greater the fall. 19
the ins and outs of a matter 504 » 5 09
The last feather broke the camel^s hack. 171
The lion is not half so fierce as he is painted. 3 18
The lover dreams of his mistress. 8 > 115 > 27 5
The miser would skin a flint. 269
the missus ( or missis ) 690
The moon does not heed the barking of the dogs. 3 84
The most fruitful branch is nearest the ground. Il8 j 19 5
The mountain was in labour > and brought forth a
mouse. 337)621
The nearer to Church > the farther from grace. 217
The nest of the blind bird is made by God. 166
The night is young. 562
The noblest vengeance is to forgive. 19 7
The opium - smoker will always find opium. 334
The ostrich hides its head in the sand. 3 26
The owl thinks all her young ones beauties. 270) 309? ^21
The owner has one house) the renter has a thousand. 32 7
the pick of the basket 3 50
The play won’t pay the candles, i 1 ) 443
The pot calls the kettle black. 22 5
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. 157
There are wheels within wheels. 2 5 1
There is a remedy for everything ) could we but hit
upon it. 418
There is a salve for every sore. 418
There is a vast difference between an old woman and
a princess. 246
51
( 50 )
There is honour among thieves. 133 ) 202 ) 264> 322
There is in the smallest thing a message for us ) could we
hut read it. 396
There is many a slip Betwixt the cup and the lip. 453
There is no Better looking - glass than an old friend ( who
is frank in telling you your faults ) . 217
There is no disputing about tastes. 266
There is no overtaking the shot once fired. 122
There is no playing with edged tools. 9 3
There is no rose without a thorn. 4l2) 413) 414) 485
There is no smoke without fire. Ill > 437 ) 6 87
There is nothing like leather. 33 8
There’s no room to swing a cat. 126 ) 127
There’s talk of the Turk and Pope ) but ’ tis my next
neighbour does me the harm. 433
There was (or is ) not a soul there. 493 ) 666 i 738
The rich are trustees under God for the poor. 118
The rich feast ) the poor fast i the dogs dine ) the poor
pine. 496
The shoemaker’s wife goes (he worst shod. l35 ) 336
The singed cat lives long. 50
The sins of the fathers are visited on the children. 295
The sky will not fall in. 1 > 10
the sound of a flute to a deaf man 145 ) 2 59
The story goes 711 » 733
The tailor’s wife goes the worst clad. 33 6
The tide has turned. 69 2
The tongue talks at the head’s cost. 33 ) 185 > 243
The unruly longue endangers the whole body. 243
The whole life of man is but a point of time i* let US
enjoy it > therefore ) while it lasts » and not spend it to
no purpose (Piutarch\f Morals). 306
The wind keeps not always in one quaiter. 530
The worst part of it is behind. 610
The worst wheel of the carriage creaks the most. 388
They are as like as two peas ( in a pod ) . 4 53
They that live in glass houses should not throw stones. 120
They who come from afar have leave to lie. 132
They will never go in double harness. 4
( SI )
thin as a lath 631 * 688
Things don’t look well. 702
think much of oneself 73 5
think nothing of 747
think scorn of 733
Think twice before you Speak once. 42 « 44 » 426
Third time never like the rest. 147 » 437
Th is day there is no trust i come to ~ morrow. 4l
This is an endless task. 47 8
thorn in one’s side ( or flesh ) ^72
Those that have marbles may play » but those that have
none must look on. 496
Though the enemy seem a mouse i yet watch him like
a lion. 270
Though the mills of God grind slowly j yet they grind
exceedingly small, 141 j l65
Though the sore be healed r yet a scar may remain. 143
throw a sprat to catch a mackerel ( herring t whale ) 32 8
throw dice 7 43
throw dust in some one’s eyes 3 » 586
throw into disorder 649
throw into the shade 63 8
throw off all disguise 54 8
throw off the mask 92
throw oneself at some one’s feet 585
throw out of bounds 5 69
throw stones on the sea 179
throw up 7 21
throw up the Sponge 497 » 5 50 » 5 58
’ Tis not for every man to catch a salmon. 323
’ Tis the distance that lends enchantment to the view ( and
robs the mountain of its azure blue ) . 17 » 24 i 2 87
’Tis very hard to shave an egg. 26 » 174 » 46 8
Tit for tat. 46 > 333 > 417
to a hair 671
To be poor and contented is riches enough. 172 t 318
To-day me 1 to-morrow thee. 421
To err is. human (i to forgive divine ) . 42 » 59 » 351
tog oneself up ( of out ) 511
( 52 )
Tom 1 Dick > and Harry 554 » 7 06
to-morrow come never 693
tons of money 62 8
Too hasty burnt his lips. 707
Too many cooks spoil the broth. 11 > 162 > 344 > 3.66
to sum up 602 ? 638? 678 ? 771
to the effect that 736
touch for sol } 504
touch off 529
Touch wood. 5l2
tough guy (a) 6u3
track down 544
trail a light harrow 705
transfixed with amazement 52 3
Travellers tell fine tales. 131
Travelling broadens the mind 69 i 259
Travel makes a wise man better > but a fool worse. 488 i 565
tread on air 548
tread on one^s corns 488
( The passage actually has “ trodden ” ) .
tremble like an aspen leaf 64 5
trifle with 733
True blood will never stain. 30
Trust no future j howe’er pleasant »
Let the dead Past bury its dead.
Act j act in the living present >
H eart within and God overhead 362
Truth will out. 1 1
try the patience of 7 42
try to measure sea - water by a pint - pot 3
tumble down 59 3
tune up 556
turn a deaf ear to 9 5 ) 3 54
turn a hair 524
Turn and turn about » turn about is fair play. 10 y 686
turn an honest penny 726
turn aside 7 3 5
turn a somersault 6l7 , 662 > 72 5
turn down 652
( S3 )
turn off 544
turn over 649
turn over a leaf 692
turn the tables on some one 692
turn up 7 26
turn upside down 555 > 689
twiddle one’s thumbs 665
twinge of conscience 749
Two captains sink a ship. 344 f 366
Two cats and a mouse » two wives in one house i
two dogs and a bone > do not agree in one. 22 2
Two heads are better than one. 301
Two kings in one kingdom do not agree well together. 539
Two of a trade ( can ) never agree. 39 » 80 > 434
Two stars keep not their motion in the same sphere > nor
can Sngland brook a double reign of Harry Percy and the
Prince of wales. 22 3
Two wrongs do not make a right. 186
U
unbosom oneself 536 * 586
under the stimulus of 723
Union is strength. 2 > 2l6 » 381 ? 450 * 466
ups and downs 625
Up with . . . ! 5 5 3
V
veer and haul 565
Vicar of Bray 80
vicissitudes of fortune 625
Virtue is its ( own ) reward. 187 , 289
Vox populi vox DeK 243
W
walk some one off his legs 468
Walls have ears. 227
warm the blood of 562
watch over 671
water off ( Of on ) a duck’s back 95 > 114 , 624
( S4 )
wear a decOratian 681
wear a ma^k 7.49
wear a moustache 740
We are all in the same Boat. 66
We are best loved furthest off. 2 17
wear^glasses 745
wear one’s years well 732
wear out 621
We desire but one feather out of your goose. 639
We have a rod in pickle for him. I4l
We have sown our wild oats. 360
We had words. 627
Well done ! 627 , 7l2
We must be thankful for small mercies. 43
We never know the worth of the water until the river
runs dry, 120 » 313-314
wet blanket 711
wet to the skin 646
What cannot be cured must be endured. I-,*,
What comes with the wind goes with the water (Ma^x), 41*
Whatever is is good. 60
What is a crab in a cow's mouth ? 311
What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. 297
What is done cannot be undone. 4 > 2 84
What is every man’s business is no man’s business. 162
What is my turn to-day may be thine to-morrow. 421
What IS one man’s meat is another man’s poison. 306
What is past is past. 247
What is wrong with . . . ? 705
What quarter is the wind in 196
What’s got over the devil’s back is spent under his
belly. 496
What’s hers is mine i what is mine is mine own. 640
What soberness conceals drunkenness reveals. 37 5
What the eye sees not , the heart rues not. 5 5 1
What the heart thinks the tongue speaks. 1 3
What ! would you have an ass chop logic ’ 2 3
When I am (or we are) gone, let happen what may. 93,215
When Greek meets Greek , then comes the lug of war. 154
( 55 )
When sorrows 001110 » they come not single spies > but in
battalions. 2 33
When the candles are away } all cats are grey. 2 74
When the cat is away 1 the mice will play. l39
When the drink is in » the truth is out. 37 5
When the noose is prepared? the thief lakes warning. 41 ? 141
When the pot boils over > it cools itself. 311
When things go to the worst they will mend. 104
when two Sundays meet 32 > 69 3
When you are in Rome > do as the Romans do. 181 ? 57 7
When you have a desire to do anything ? your feet are
light. 202
Where men are all used wel) 1 they’ll frequent
there. 65 3 ? 69 8
Where nothing is ? nothing can be had. 26 ? 174 ? 468
Where one door shuts? another opens. I 66 > 287
Where shall the ox go > but he shall labour.^ 511
Where the hedge is low ? commonly men leap over. 227
Where there are bees > there is honey. Ill
Where there are too many ? life is cheap. 288
Where there’s a will there’s a way. 181 ? 20 2
whet the appetite 714
Which way does the cat jump? 197
While the grass grows > the steed (of cow) starves. 68 > 10 5
Who goes there? 5 70
Who keeps company with a wolf will learn to howl, 348 ? 42 2
Who knows he knows nothing knows much. 104 ? 3 56
Who knows what to-morrow holds? 470
who quakes at work and sweats at meals 49 3
Who throws mud on another soils his own hand. 116
Wide(r) ears and a short tongue 4 52
wind up 668
wink at 67 6
win some one’s heart 503
wipe out 649
wise to it 630
wish one good luck 653
Wishes don’t wash dishes. 2 3
with a good mind 533
( 56 )
Woe Betide . , . 690
Woe is me ! 690 > 69 I
wolf in sheep’s clothing { or wolf in the lamBV
skin ) 346 » 639
wool-gathering 596
word for word 702
word of honour 605
Words once spoken cannot be recalled. 122 » 254
work in place 7 47
work loose 698
work out a scheme 545
wound up 620
wrinkled with age 699
write off 603
wrought up 62 0
year in year out 74 0
You are a fool to steal if you can’t conceal. 45 , 33 1
You are like the cuckoo; you have but one song. 653
You are welcome. 735
You cannot wash a blackamoor white. 73 , 79 , 81 *
You can’t gather figs from thistles. 53
You can’t draw (or get) blood out of a stone. 124,
145 , 185 , 468
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ears. 2 39
You can’t see the wood for the trees. 16
You may end him , but you will not mend him. 119
You may know by a handful the whole Sack. 43 , 376
You may thank your stars. 506
You must ask your neighbour if you shall live in peace. 433
ou must lie on the bed you have made. 441
You must take the fat with the lean. 394
You’ve been had 616.
Omitted from the List
A -B
abide by one’s word ^62
administer an oath (to) 369
A fool may throw a stone into a well » which a hundred
wise men cannot pull out. 43 I
After a delay comes a stay. 3ll
A handful of grass for an elephant’s stomach ! 3ll
A lion at home * a mouse abroad. 263
A little body has often a great soul. 3l 1
All one > but their meat must go two ways. 268
a nigger in the woodpile (or fence) 57 7
argue down 383
*{> at daggers drawn 607
at one’s wits’ end 386
avail oneself of 5 90
bear one a grudge 389
bear oneself out 578
beat to a mummy 606
be delivered of a child 391
be in demand 57 7
be on heat ( or in heat ) 592
be struck ( or knocked ) all of a heap 64 5 I 571
be weighed ( or broken ) down 574
bid against 348
big shot ( a ) 3 2 3
* bleed white 577
Blessings are not valued till they are gone. 3 14'
blow out 5 95 i boil over 561
break one’s neck 506
a- bring to bay 583
by catches 507 i by fits and starts 307
C-D
care a fig ( He doesn’t care a fig. ) 588
carry a joke too far 576
( 58 )
cast a Spell on 582
cast aspersions on one's character 57 3
cave in 594
change hands 531
Cheap is dear in the long run. 437
come short 602 » come to an end 5 59
come to nothing 587
consult a hook 5 92
contract a deht 60 I
Courtesy on one side can never last long. 146
cry wolf too often 163
curry favour with some one 5 57
deceive the vigilance of 588
Delays are dangerous. 3 11
die in labour 561
do justice to a meal 5 74
drink off 563
done up 5 3 4
Don t fear the bridges until you come to them. 306
* draw in one’s horns 590
drop in 561
E - F
Either die » or live with honour. 371
Either win the saddle > or lose the horse. 439 > 44 1
end in smoke 5 39
exceed bounds 590 j 592
fall down dead 5 59
fall in ( Of down ) 5 93
fall in love ( with ) 584
fall into a fit 580 , 589
fall into the habit of . . . 58 3
fall to pieces 59 3
find it in one’s heart to . . . 5 37
flay a flint 20
foist off 597
Fools and madmen speak the truth. 5 17
Fortune is fickle. 2l5, 216
from pole to pol e 597
frustrated in one’s hopes 535
( 59 )
G
Gentle means are best. 348
* get a thing off one*s chest 586
get one’s hack up 5 62
get to sleep 524
give a show off ( to ) 5 70
give full Vneasure 568
give something to boot 560
go begging 512
go deep into 590
Good men must die » but death cannot kill their names. 221
go on Shanks’s mare 568
O go too far 5 76
go to stool 562
"O’ go through the mill 607
go to law 584
* grease some one’s palm 5 58
grow above one’s age 5 99
H
hard row to hoe (a) 607
have a bone in one’s arm 5 38
have a hold on some one 568
have a loose tongue 541
have at one’s fingers’ ends 59 5
have a vinegar countenance 56 3
head or tail 577
Health is not valued till sickness comes. 314
Heaven forbid ! 5 2 1
He has One foot in the grave. 5 1 3
He has swallowed shame and drunk after it. 519
He hung his lip. 5 58
He is a button short, 586
He is a man of his word. 319
He is out of his depth. 586
He is the man for it. 5 98
He is trying to run before he has learned to walk
( or creep ) . 307
He is weak in the upper storey, 580
( 6d )
He that promUea too much means nothing. ^67
He thinks his halfpenny good silver. 572
He whose Belly is full Believes not him that is fasting. 571
high and mighty 581
His Bowels do not move. 574
His mouth watered. 541
hum and ha(w) 571
Hush it up ! 564
I-J -K
If an ass goes a travelling » he’ll not come home a horse. 523
If you play with boys y you must take Boys ’ play. 515
I’ll thank you for the next y for this I am sure of. 521
In for a penny > in for a pound. 3l6
in good humour 561 i in good spirits 560 y 564
in great state^5 38
in order ( It is in order. ) 588
in spite of j in the teeth of 587
in the nick of time 5 39
I see you come from Bardney. 5 33
It doesn’t set the Thames on fire. 526
It did my heart good. 536
It falls to you to . . . 53 3
It is all over with him. 517
It is an old wine in a new Bottle. 52 3
O It is nothing short of . . , 5 33
It will cut no ice. 52 6
Jack ' on ~ Both - sides 2 78
keep back 586 i keep pace 600
kick against the pricks 376
knit up 562
knock together 565
know chalk from cheese 570
L
lame excuse (a) 584 > 585
last touch 595
-0 leave in the lurch 608
Leave well alone. 565
Less of your courtesy and more of your purse. 500
( 61 )
Like host ) like guest. 490
little knowing that 588
Live not to eat ? but eat to live. 390
Long live . . . ! 5 33
loosen the purse strings 563
lose one’s heart 5 3 5
M - N
make a rush for 564
make a scene 591 i 605
make it a condition 605
o make mince-meat of 606
Make the vine poor > and it will make you rich. 5 52
man of straw -5 77
{> measure others ’ corn by one’s own bushel 605
Methuselah’s life 587
Money is oft lost for want of money. 580
nail up 565
nose about ( or around ) 564
nose out a secret 5 44
Nothing is too hot or too heavy for him. 548
O-P
on one’s beam-ends 607
on the average 9 on the whole 5 48
out and abroad 5 5 9
out of one’s depth 599
Peace be to his departed spirit. 546
pinched with hunger 547 i 580
play a good knife and fork 569
play fast and loose 565
play upon 563
ply with questions 569
-O poke one’s nose into 59 4
pound to a jelly 606
pour out one’s fury upon a person 60 5
public house loafer 596
put it in the mind of 579
put one’s shoulder to the wheel 501
put one’s talent in a napkin 581
( 62 )
put to the blush 38 3
put on one’s mettle 562
R - S
relieve one’s heart 5S()
rend the air 548
ring the knell of 591
roar with laughter 5 98
resign one’s life ( Of being) 578
rotten at (or to ) the core 575
run in to 561
run short of rimes 5 97
Say you saw me not. 572
set back 586 » set thinking 5 79
settle upon 58 3
shell out 567 j 585 , 59 0
slink off ( Of away ) 506
smell round 564
sneak away 5 96
spin a yarn 57 9
stand guarantor for 580
strike a blow for something 568
T
take advantage of 569
take on board 568
take oneself off 595
fake one's time over 562
take up the cudgels 571
talk big 590
o talk one’s head off 563 , 564
talk through one’s hat 590
teach some one his place 56o
tell fortunes 58 I > 59 2
tell out 548
The Devil is good to his own. 566
The eagle does not catch flies. 580
The humour took him. 586
tire out 564
trade on 569
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